Jay Rockefeller: “I believe that we must provide access to higher education, which still too many hard-working American students cannot…”

“I believe that we must provide access to higher education, which still too many hard-working American students cannot afford without the help of Federal financial aid. I support the Higher Education Access Act because it will increase the access to education for many more students. In the 2005 to 2006 academic year, the average cost of a U.S. public college or university was $12,108, with the average Pell grant covering 33 percent of tuition, fees, and room and board. For a West Virginia public college or university in the 2005 to 2006 academic year, the average cost was $9,992, with the average Pell grant covering 41 percent of tuition, fees, and room and board. A senior in West Virginia graduating from college has an average of $16,041 in student loan debt. This bill will help offset that cost. The first provision of the bill will increase the aid available to those students who qualify for Federal assistance. By making changes to the current provisions of the Pell grant program, more low-income students will have the opportunity to pursue higher education that otherwise might have been out of their reach. Another vital and helpful component of this legislation is the repayment cap and loan forgiveness program, which would help repay student loans of those individuals who have decided to enter the public sector.”