President Barack Obama discussed his newly unveiled tuition-free community college plan in Tennessee, a state that he said inspired his model.
According to the Huffington Post, the White House would pay for three quarters of the bill while each individual state would come up with the remainder. The proposal, which can be seen here, still requires approval from Congress and from the states, if it should get that far.
The President announced his plan Friday with a video on the White House's Facebook account. Aboard the Air Force One aircraft, Obama said he was on his way to Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tenn. and that the state had a community college model already in place that served as an inspiration for his plan.
"Part of the reason I wanted to come here was because Tennessee is at the forefront of doing some really smart stuff," Obama said in his address. "And we've got some proud Tennesseans who can take some credit for the great work that's been done."
Since the GOP controls a majority of Congress, Obama's proposal could run into a major roadblock. Under the proposal, as many as nine million U.S. citizens would be eligible for free community college, so long as they maintain a C+ GPA and finish their program on time.
For some students, community college serves as a cheap alternative for job training and certification compared to traditional four-year institutions. For others, it can lessen the cost of those four-year schools in various transfer programs.
Supporters of Obama's plan, the HP reported, believe it will sustain enrollment, help people work down their student loan debt and eliminate for-profit school systems. The cost is substantial, however, and would take an estimated $60 billion if approved.
"Think about it: Students who started at community colleges during those two years, and then go on to a four-year institution - they essentially get the first half of their bachelor's degree for free," Obama said. "People who enroll for skills training will graduate already ready to work, and they won't have a pile of student debt."
