GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s claim that President Obama is a “snob” for wanting every American to attend college is raising a new question: Even if every 18-24 could go to college, would there be enough space?
Currently, the Department of Education reports that 41 percent of the 30 million American youths aged 18-24, or about about 12 million, attend college. Another eight million from other age groups are also in school for a total of about 20 million. Adding in the 18 million alone in the 18-24 age group would require a massive and costly building campaign.
“The focus on getting more students to complete is laudable,” said Norma Kent, spokeswoman for the American Association of Community Colleges, “but attaining that goal, as President Obama and others have advocated, is a very complex proposition.”
