'I completely agree with your goal for debt-free college. Here's my plan

[elleng]

Thanks for your very important question, Axel. I completely agree with your goal for debt-free college. Here's my plan to do it: http://omly.us/om-debt-free-college '

[ReasonableToo]

1. not thrilled with median income as guide - it can be skewed high in some states

I'd like to see tuition tied to minimum wage because that skews it DOWN rather than up. (Especially true for O'Malley's state of Maryland with some of the highest incomes of country.)

5 hours per week times 52 weeks per year times the state's minimum wage = $ annual tuition at state school (to include ALL mandatory fees).

Annual room and board should be capped at the same amount as annual tuition.

20 years ago, a student could work all year and keep up with tuition. (less during school and more hours over the summer) Not anymore!

Also, if we move away from FREE tuition at the outset, we don't have the R's complaining that we "want free stuff". (I know the article is not pushing for FREE tuition.)

I'd also LOVE to see us do away with the "in-state" versus "out-of-state" tuition rates. What I'm hearing is that it is increasingly difficult for students to get accepted into their own state schools. It appears that the state schools would rather collect the out-of-state tuition rates than the "bargain" in state tuition rates. DC residents get in-state rates at all public schools already so why not all schools?