If higher education wants to rebuild public trust, start with making college affordable
Preview:
With tuition at private universities up 112 percent over the past two decades and 31 percent of enrolled students considering dropping out due to cost, affordability has become the defining barrier to public trust in higher education. SUNY's tuition freeze, wraparound supports for food insecurity and child care, and the SUNY Reconnect free community college program offer a working model, with system enrollment growing 6.5 percent over three years as a result. Rebuilding confidence requires a sustained, systemwide commitment to predictable costs, expanded need-based aid, and transparent communication about the value of a degree.
Originally published: June 3, 2026
Author: John B. King Jr
Position: Chancellor
Institution: State University of New York (SUNY)
Published by: The Hechinger Report