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Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller
Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

Is free college the answer?

Graduates
In this Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 file picture, students attend graduation ceremonies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The number of borrowers defaulting on federal student loans has jumped sharply, the latest indication that rising college tuition costs, low graduation rates and poor job prospects are getting more and more students over their heads in debt. The national two-year cohort default rate rose to 8.8 percent in 2009, from 7 percent in fiscal 2008, according to figures released Monday, Sept. 12, 2011 by the Department of Education.
AP Photo/Butch Dill

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A decade ago, few presidential hopefuls had staked out a position on whether to make college free or provide student loan forgiveness. But with student debt hovering at a staggering $1.5 trillion, tuition costs rising at eight times the rate of wages, and college degrees a virtual prerequisite for many decently paid jobs, the problem has taken on a new urgency. And it’s not just political candidates. States, cities and universities themselves are taking a stab at addressing college affordability. The result is a patchwork of experiments taking place across the country to test models as varied as income-share agreements, debt forgiveness and tuition-free colleges.

MPR News host Kerri Miller spoke with two experts to talk about the proposals the Democratic candidates have suggested and analyze their pros and cons. What are the economic realities of fixing our broken system?

Guests:

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

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