I did not know that the Island of Rhode has a Free College program called Rhode Island Promise. It is available through the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). You need to be a Rhode Island Resident, a high school graduate (includes homeschoolers), and under the age of 19.
But according to the CCRI Faculty Association President Steve Murray, “I wouldn’t call RI Promise a success or a good use of the taxpayer’s money.”
“Nearly 40 Percent of Raimondo’s ‘Free College’ Students at CCRI Did Not Return for 2nd Year” — and now Murray is questioning of the returning students, how many successfully met the course load and grade point average standards necessary for free tuition in year two.
So, Rhode Island promises to spend tax dollars to force higher-education on people who are not ready for college. But since it’s “free” they figure what the heck. And then they discover that it’s like school, and there are books, and you have to study, and they say screw this. And that’s a concern because to remain eligible you need to maintain a 2.5 GPA. That’s right. 2.5. At a Community College. Money well spent.
“I can’t imagine that of the 62% that returned that they all completed 30 credits with a 2.5 GPA. When the College finally chooses to release these numbers, I believe we will see that many RI Promise students did not successfully complete their first year,” said Murray.
If you live in Rhode Island and you voted for this, or the governor who gave it to you, do not move to New Hampshire. Massachusetts has way better welfare and unemployment benefits and a lot more people who think free college is a well into which we should pour other people’s millions.
But we don’t mind if you visit on the weekends. And if you stop funding “free” college, you’ll have more money you can choose to spend here. We’re not going to make you. We don’t roll like that.