California taxpayers would pay $3.3 billion a year for ‘free’ college

According to a new report, the program would include free tuition at any University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges, as well as a stipend to cover housing and living expenses.

Though the concept of free tuition has been advocated by a number of Democrats, California appears to be the first that is willing to consider free room and board as well. Only the military is willing to cover housing plus room and board, and this is only given in exchange for four years of service after graduation.

Lawmakers say the program is a long way from finished, but the report warned that moving to cover both tuition and living expenses would carry a “significant price tag” and that potential consequences must also be carefully considered. Although the program would help students graduate without debt, it would undoubtedly place an enormous burden on taxpayers and California’s economy, which would likely impact job prospects for the students once they graduate.

There is also a question of whether or not a debt-free college program prevents students from learning essential skills that most college students are forced to develop while on their own, such as budgeting and learning to be frugal. Additionally, providing students with a stipend to cover living expenses raises enormous concerns what students are able to purchase with the money, especially in a state that just voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

While California is considering a statewide free college initiative, such a program is unlikely to make its way to the federal level anytime soon. President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos has repeatedly expressed skepticism over the “free” part of free college.

When asked about her views on free college tuition by Senator Bernie Sanders, she reminded him, “Nothing in life that is truly free. Somebody is going to pay for it.”