Policy Matters Ohio
07/29/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/29/2024 07:56
The moral case for funding higher education
The moral case for funding higher education
Posted on 07/29/24 by Tanisha Pruitt, PhD (she/her) in Education & Training
All Ohioans, no matter what they look like or how much money they have, deserve to go as far as their dreams and abilities take them. Access to higher education improves economic security and contributes to a robust workforce. A well-educated workforce is essential for economic growth and competitiveness. Higher education produces skilled professionals who drive innovation, productivity, and economic development. Graduates typically earn more and therefore contribute more in taxes, providing greater resources for public goods and services.
However, higher education is too often unaffordable for Ohioans, due to rising tuition costs and decreased state-share investments. Since 2006, lawmakers have cut the state share of instruction (SSI) by approximately 12% in inflation-adjusted dollars. When state funding doesn't match inflation, it strains the budgets of public colleges and universities. Often, they respond by raising tuition, putting postsecondary education and training further out of reach for many Ohioans.
Gov. DeWine's 2024-25 Executive Budget proposal included funding for the Ohio Access Challenge and other programs geared toward Ohioans who have traditionally been excluded from postsecondary education and training. But state representatives stripped that funding, and state senators opted not to restore it.
As a result, millions of Ohio students cannot afford tuition - even the relatively low tuition of community colleges - without taking on education debt that is a burden long after they leave school, regardless of whether they leave with a diploma. Ohio ranks 6th in the nation for education debt, and lawmakers did little to help in the most recent budget: They appropriated $400 million over the biennium for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), a much-needed increase, but still too little to significantly change the amounts awarded to Ohioans trying to access higher education and training, especially for students at two-year institutions.
Many students in Ohio's colleges and universities also struggle to pay for basic needs such as housing and food. A 2020 study found that 60% of students at Columbus State Community College experienced housing insecurity. Nationally, almost 40% of college students at four-year universities experience food insecurity.
Higher education often leads to better job prospects and higher earning potential, providing individuals with the means to achieve economic independence and security. However, its value extends far beyond personal financial gain. Higher education enriches individuals intellectually and socially. It is, therefore, a moral imperative to support and promote access to higher education for all. Higher education encourages critical thinking, creativity, and the pursuit of knowledge. It fosters a love for learning that can lead to a more fulfilling and intellectually stimulating life. College and university environments offer opportunities for students to explore their interests, discover their passions, and develop a sense of identity. This self-discovery is crucial for personal growth and happiness.
Access to higher education reduces the structural barriers that create economic and social inequity across lines of race, gender, class, and ability. Higher education fosters informed and engaged citizens who are more likely to vote, volunteer, and be active in their communities. Higher education institutions contribute to the cultural and intellectual vibrancy of society, supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences. Students' exposure to diverse perspectives and cultures in higher education promotes understanding, tolerance, and social cohesion, reducing prejudice and fostering harmonious communities. Higher education nurtures human potential; ensuring access respects and affirms the inherent dignity and worth of every person, recognizing their right to develop their talents and abilities.
Society has a collective responsibility to invest in higher education as a public good that benefits everyone, not just those who directly receive it. In Ohio, lawmakers have a moral obligation to provide the conditions under which individuals can flourish. They can do this directly - and drive down tuition and education debt - by increasing state funding for higher education, expanding need-based financial aid, and shoring up support for basic needs like food, housing, and childcare. Doing so will improve outcomes for students, families, and Ohioans in general.