Illustration: Camilla Forte How the Promise of Free College Doesn’t Always Help Low-Income Students Lilah Burke, The Hechinger Report/The Guardian Most statewide free college programs don’t necessarily help the lowest-income students finish or pay for college. What low-income students really need is help with other expenses, such as housing, books, and transportation—things free college programs don’t often cover.
Now, some states are trying something different. They’re launching “first-dollar” programs, in which money from the state can be applied first to tuition. Low-income students can then use their Pell Grants and other federal aid for other costs of college. |