CHERISH Act Advocates Push Debt-Free College Scholarship for a Stronger Workforce

Advocates sees CHERISH Act as a solution to rising college costs and inflation in Massachusetts. It proposes a Debt-Free College Scholarship program with $2,000 per eligible student, emphasizing higher education investment for a more competitive state.

CHERISH Act Advocates Push Debt-Free College Scholarship. (Photo: US NEWS)

CHERISH Act Advocates Push Debt-Free College Scholarship

According to 22 NEWS, Massachusetts seeks $800 million for the CHERISH Act, aiming to alleviate college tuition struggles worsened by inflation. Advocates emphasize the need to invest in higher education, offering debt-free scholarships covering tuition, living expenses, and support services, particularly benefiting marginalized students.

According to Rep. Sean Garballey that the goals include achieving a more educated workforce, increased earnings, and the investment in the economic strength of our commonwealth, with the result being a more competitive commonwealth and an affordable state.

The Higher Ed for All Coalition expects the CHERISH Act to create a more diverse workforce by helping students from low-income backgrounds complete their degrees and certificates without financial barriers. This aligns with a report by the Hildredth Institute, which noted declining college enrollment among low-income high school graduates due to student debt and rising costs.

Read Also: Amid Wells Fargo’s Recent Scandals, Bank Employees Continue To Unionize For Better Pay And Work Conditions 

Advocates Urge Action on Debt-Free College Scholarship under CHERISH Act

In an article from Gloucester Times, Ben Forman of MassINC warns that without the CHERISH Act, Massachusetts could face a 200,000-person decline in its college-educated workforce by 2030. Lower-income individuals, especially in regional areas, struggle to afford higher education.

Coalition members emphasized the need of CHERISH Act to reverse decades of declining state support for higher education, with a nearly 30% funding drop since 2001 when adjusted for inflation.

MeanwhileColin Jones from MassBudget estimates the CHERISH Act at $790 million and suggests a phased implementation similar to the Student Opportunity Act to make college more affordable upfront.

Read Also: Housing And Jobs: Changes In The Economy Impact U.S. Cities, California Leads The Way