Today, State Senator Derek Slap, Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, applauded news that Yale University will provide free tuition for students whose families’ income and certain assets are under $200,000. Additionally, the university will cover all costs of attendance for families with incomes below $100,000.

“Yale understands that to truly fulfill their mission, cost cannot be a barrier. This is also true for other schools that are not as well resourced. That’s why I am pushing for a significant expansion in scholarship support for Connecticut students attending schools in the state. Connecticut ranks among the worst states when it comes to providing public scholarships and the result is that many of our students go out of state for college – and never return. Alternatively, other students simply opt out of college altogether due to cost. Debt-free community college has been a great success in our state, but we must do more for students pursuing a four year degree. It’s wonderful that Yale is expanding their institutional aid, but they are in a very different financial place than our other universities and colleges. Let’s celebrate Yale’s decision while acknowledging state government has a role to play to make this kind of move a reality at our other schools.”

Over the last several years Democrat led legislation has expanded access to higher education through increased investment in scholarships, debt-free community college, Connecticut Automatic Admission Program (CAAP) and expanding access to lower interest CHESLA loans.