Letter to the editor: Pa. needs reset in higher education funding

According to data from the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of in-state tuition in the United States is $9,349. In Pennsylvania, the average cost of in-state tuition is $27,400. The sooner we have consensus and recognize that the cost of in-state tuition in Pennsylvania is not normal, we can move this discussion along.

That’s why I support Rep. Eric Nelson’s College Voucher Program (“Hempfield lawmaker’s bill targets Pitt, Penn State funding.”)

For some, a college education is a part of the American dream. It opens the door to better-paying jobs and creates oppor­tunity. But what happens when students can’t afford to attend college? Pennsylvania sends over $580 million to Penn State, Pitt and Temple each year. Yet an education at one of these schools is not affordable for many Pennsylvania students, especially those who live in low- to moderate-income households or working adults trying to complete their degrees.

Pennsylvania needs a reset in how it approaches education. Nelson’s College Voucher Program is the right move for Pennsylvania. Let’s redirect that money back into the hands of students to control their own path. Students can use the money as a grant toward nursing school or trade school, community college or a different school of their choice. The important thing is that the College Voucher Program places the decision in the hands of the students to create their own bright future, instead of blindly into the pockets of a major university.

Gregory Mertz

Greensburg