(04-13-2017 10:47 AM)zibby Wrote:  Who cares if some legitimately rich kid gets free tuition? If he or she stays in New York the state will benefit.

Or, some really smart rich kid. Similar to an old NJ program (and helped catapult TCNJ into a semi-elite level).

Free tuition isn't that radical, given the changes in higher education. Financial aid was a big player...it opened up schooling to a majority of the population. States expanding their assistance programs another big step. Some states (like PA) all but guaranteed enrollment into state system schools if certain qualifications were met.

So, this has been coming. In some places, tuition to two-year schools can be free or heavily discounted with certain met qualifications.

Where the issues arise will be accreditation and continued funding, and this is where the state and federal governments screw their partners, forcing schools to admit students that wouldn't qualify for enrollment otherwise, seeing them drop out, and the hit in the data causing a stir with funding and accreditation. This has been going on in the two-year schools for some time now...still cheaper than four years will ever be...still as underutilized as its ever been...still overlooked and underappreciated. The four-year schools are going to HATE that part of programs like this. It essentially locks in schools already rated/tiered. Buffalo, Stony Brook, and Binghamton can all tell these applicants they're entitled to SUNY education, just not at that campus. They'll be fine, the others not so much.

^^^And it works out that way for the top campuses. Something similar in PA helped Penn State expand enrollment at their branch campuses and repulse students from Main Campus. Penn State's main campus is very tough to get into now. Back in the early 90's...different story.