City College Of San Francisco Offers Free Tuition, But Not Free College, Says NY Students

The City College of San Francisco has recently entered into an agreement where the city will pay $5.4 million a year in order to buy out the $46 a credit fee that is being paid by students.

The city will also contribute by providing $250 per semester to full time and low income students who are already receiving a state-funded fee waiver. The $250 can be used to purchase books, supplies, other school fees and transportation. For part time students with fee waivers, they are going to get a $100 contribution from the city.

A few months ago, city leaders are considering a proposal that would raise taxes on luxury real estate to fund free tuition at the City College of San Francisco. Jackie Ward reports in the video below.

City College of San Francisco chancellor Susan Lamb hopes that the prospect of free college will inspire many to grab the opportunity to enroll and attain education, as reported by the SF Gate. Officials hope the deal would make City College more attractive to potential enrollments.

The prospect of free tuition may sound too good to be true but students are quick to point out that free tuition is not the same as free college. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has recently announced that a new college tuition assistance program will make college tuition free at SUNY and CUNY schools for disadvantaged families that are earning $125,000 or less through the Excelsior Scholarship program, as reported by Fox 5.

New York public college students explain that they do not mean to sound ungrateful but the ambitious free tuition proposal does not necessarily mean that college is free. With San Francisco entering a deal that can alleviate fee burdens, other states are following suit.

With the cost of student fees and books, students are saying that any tuition help is welcome but they urge the states and cities to also help pay for the other costs of college education. Thousands of students who receive financial aid still graduate with thousands of dollars in debt to pay off.