The Chronicle of Higher Education utilized the expertise of UW–Madison’s Nick Hillman for an article that is headlined, “Ohio State U. Unveils a Plan for All Students to Graduate Debt-Free.”
Hillman is an associate professor with the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and the director of the Student Success through Applied Research (SSTAR) lab.
The article reports on Ohio State University’s plan for all undergraduate students on its campus to graduate debt-free within a decade. Instead of offering students federal loans as part of their financial-aid packages, the university will offer a combination of grants, internships, and opportunities to assist with research, the article explains.
Hillman points out that a key question is whether Ohio State will continue to enroll the same kinds of students when program is implemented. “The skeptic in me says you could go debt-free by enrolling a lot more wealthy students,” he said.
However, Hillman also remarked on the importance of messaging in attracting low- and middle-income students to college. Regarding Ohio State’s messaging, he said, “The spirit of this is on point.”
To learn more about Ohio State’s plan, read the full article at chronicle.com.