Free college programs come in different forms but generally refer to the government picking up the tab for tuition costs, while students pay for other expenses such as room and board. [50] At least 38 states have existing or proposed variations of free college programs. [48]

Tuition at public four-year institutions more than doubled over the past thirty years, and the average student loan debt more than doubled from the 1990s to the 2010s, according to the US Department of Education. [29] There are currently around 17 million students in undergraduate programs in the United States. [49] As the 2020 presidential election heats up, many candidates are bringing the issue of free college into the national spotlight. [47]

Is tuition-free college an economy-boosting solution to unequal college access and sky-high college debts? Or is tuition-free college a taxpayer burden that will still result in high student debt and drop-out rates? The pros and cons of the tuition-free college debate are detailed below.