A majority of students would still have enrolled at Hillsdale College, even if offered free tuition at a public college or university in their home state, according to a recent Collegian survey.
Of 297 respondents 52 percent said they would still attend Hillsdale even if Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton approved legislation offering free tuition to students for families making less than $125,000 by 2021.
Hillsdale has thrived without federal aid, but Provost David Whalen said if approved, Clinton’s plan could put the college under “increased pressure” to offer more financial aid to students. In the survey, 86 percent of students said money played a factor in their decision to enroll at Hillsdale.
Whalen said he doesn’t think a proposal like Clinton’s would put the college out of business and said many students are mainly interested in Hillsdale because of the classical liberal arts education it offers.
Although the proposed changes could force the college to run a tighter budget, Whalen said the changes could ultimately benefit Hillsdale.
Whalen said he thinks that free public higher education would cause public colleges and universities to become overwhelmed by an increased number of applicants, leading to relaxed educational standards to make sure their students don’t flunk. He said this could lead to a “precipitous” drop in the prestige of many public higher education institutions.
“The same downward pressure on public institutions to keep students and to pass them through would have a rebound effect on institutions that didn’t participate,” he said. “In a weird, funny way, it would enhance a little bit the value of a Hillsdale degree.”
Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said public colleges and universities may need to cut costs in key academic areas, in order to deal with enrollment increases. He said he also sees the changes affecting private colleges and universities that accept federal funding, as well.
“It may be that for kids currently going to Albion College on a Michigan Competitive Scholarship, which is funded through the federal rolls, their only choice is to go to a public university,” he said. “The strong private institutions will survive.”
While Clinton’s proposal would put pressure on Hillsdale to increase its financial aid offerings, Whalen said Hillsdale already subsidizes about 50 percent of its students’ tuition costs, even before they’re considered for financial aid.
Péwé called Hillsdale the best value for the quality of education it offers in the entire country.
Financial Aid Director Rich Moeggenberg agreed: “I think we’re in a position to weather these things more so than institutions that have sold their souls, that accept monies from the federal government.”
