Senate Democrats Fight to Make College Affordable

Policy Group Initiatives Would Help Over 1.3 Million New Yorkers; Make Higher Education More Affordable by Reducing Student Loan Debt, Increasing Savings For Families, Expanding Access to College Credit for High School Students

Initiatives to Enhance Readiness and Increase Graduation Rates and Employment Will Help More New Yorkers Achieve College Success

Albany, NY - The Senate Democratic Conference unveiled a policy package to reduce the costs of college and increase success rates in achieving a degree in New York State. The initiative, detailed in a white paper released titled ‘College in New York State: Affordability and Success’ presents solutions to financial barriers faced by New Yorkers seeking higher education and details a package of policy proposals for consideration to increase affordability, reduce student debt, and increase college success. This white paper was generated by the Senate Democratic Policy Group and is part of the Conference’s overall mission to make New York a more affordable state to live, work, and raise a family.

“Education is the great equalizer in our society and we need to do more to ensure all New Yorkers are able to achieve, and pay for, a quality higher education,” Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “Too many men and women in our state have been denied access to a higher education due to financial constraints, or found that continuing their education was simply too expensive and were forced to enter the job market without a degree. These New Yorkers deserve help from their state government, and that is precisely what the Senate Democrats are trying to provide.”

The ‘College in New York State: Affordability and Success’ proposal identifies two areas of focus to improve college accessibility in New York State: affordability and success. It identifies the challenges faced by students and their families affording, entering, and completing college, and finding jobs in their communities and presents 15 policy initiatives to help defray costs and provide tools to increase access and success for students. The Senate Democrats understand that for New York State to prosper, New Yorkers from all economic backgrounds must have access to quality higher education without incurring crippling debt.