President Barack Obama told an audience in Austin, Texas today that his administration is making college more affordable and accessible for students and their families nationwide.
The crowd, comprised mainly of students from the University of Texas, listened as Obama laid out steps he has taken in his first 18 months on the job to combat rising tuition prices and higher dropout rates. Among them: putting the federal government directly in charge of the student loan industry, investing more in community colleges, creating the largest college tax credit ever for members of the middle class and making it easier for families to apply for financial aid.
“At each and every juncture throughout our history, we’ve recognized…that the way to move forward, in our own lives, and as a nation, is to put education first,” the President said.
Obama lamented the fact that the U.S. currently ranks 12th worldwide in college completion, and repeated his goal of producing eight million more graduates by the year 2020. More Americans with degrees, he said, will ensure the nation’s economy remains a global leader.
“If we’re serious about making sure America’s workers, and America itself, succeed in the 21st century, the single most important step we can take is to offer all our kids…the best education the world has to offer,” said Obama.
“Education is an economic issue,” he added. “It may be the economic issue of our time.”
Higher Education Key To Economic Success, Says Obama
President Barack Obama told an audience in Austin, Texas today that his administration is making college more affordable and accessible for students and their families nationwide.
The crowd, comprised mainly of students from the University of Texas, listened as Obama laid out steps he has taken in his first 18 months on the job to combat rising tuition prices and higher dropout rates. Among them: putting the federal government directly in charge of the student loan industry, investing more in community colleges, creating the largest college tax credit ever for members of the middle class and making it easier for families to apply for financial aid.
“At each and every juncture throughout our history, we’ve recognized…that the way to move forward, in our own lives, and as a nation, is to put education first,” the President said.
Obama lamented the fact that the U.S. currently ranks 12th worldwide in college completion, and repeated his goal of producing eight million more graduates by the year 2020. More Americans with degrees, he said, will ensure the nation’s economy remains a global leader.
“If we’re serious about making sure America’s workers, and America itself, succeed in the 21st century, the single most important step we can take is to offer all our kids…the best education the world has to offer,” said Obama.
“Education is an economic issue,” he added. “It may be the economic issue of our time.”