On Higher Education

Equality of opportunity is a core value in our society. The goal of giving all Americans an equal chance to succeed according to their abilities and aspirations is fundamental to the American Dream. As it now stands, the sons and daughters of Oregonians all too often find that the cost of a higher education closes the door to them. Oregon’s funding for higher education has slipped to 44^th in the nation; when State funding declines, the difference in the actual cost of education is made up by raising tuition. Tuition has gone up 244% in the last two decades. Correcting disadvantages of this kind seem well within the reach of public policy. Political leaders could make college more affordable for lower-income families by lowering the economic barriers that have arisen as Oregon has had to cut back on support for higher education to cope with rising costs in other important sectors. The argument can be made that increasing equality of opportunity through education could ultimately do more to provide satisfying and adequately paid jobs and increase the stability and well-being of Oregonians than other single strategy.