Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found.
Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria are listed last.

Pro (Yes)

Con (No)

Clinton, Hillary (D) - Pro Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator (D-NY), stated in a July 24, 2006 article titled "Remarks of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the 2006 DLC National Conversation" on the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) website: "...[T]he most important doorway into the middle class is education beyond high school. Today a college graduate earns twice as much as a high school graduate. That is a million-dollar bonus over the working lifetimes of today's college seniors. We used to rank first in the world in our percentage of young people with a post-secondary degree; now we have fallen to seventh, not because our young people don't try but because too many don't finish. Think of that. The most overwhelming obstacle to finishing college is the expense. College costs have increased faster than inflation for 25 years in a row. The result is that college graduation rates have stayed flat for years. About 70 percent of Americans own their own home. About 85 percent have healthcare. About 42 percent own retirement accounts, but only 30 percent have a college degree. Just because many of us from this room think everybody we know has a college degree, that is not the case. The percentage is higher for Americans under 35, but it is still less than half... Within a decade, more than half of our young people could finish college with a degree, and any student willing to work part time or perform community service to go to a four-year public college practically free, because we propose a new performance-based American dream grant that will award states money each year based on the number of students that attend and graduate from their colleagues and universities." July 24, 2006 Hillary Clinton

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Gravel, Mike (Lib) - Pro Mike Gravel, former U.S. Senator (D-AK), issued the following statement through his press secretary, Alex Colvin, in a Oct. 19, 2007 email to ProCon.org: "Yes. Major funds now appropriated for the Pentagon should be redirected to pay for higher education." Oct. 19, 2007 Mike Gravel

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	Keyes, Alan (Ind) - None Found
	ProCon.org emailed the Keyes campaign on Mar. 26, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Apr. 11, 2008.

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McCain, John (R) - Pro John McCain, U.S. Senator (R-AZ), stated in a Feb. 25, 2000 The Chronicle of Higher Education article titled "Q&A: The Candidates on College Issues": "By far, I believe the skyrocketing costs of tuition at colleges and universities across our nation is the biggest obstacle facing those who want to continue their education. Over the last 20 years, the average tuition at public educational institutions has increased by 400 percent, while tuition at private institutions has increased more than 440 percent. These are unnerving statistics for parents just starting their families, but they are a terrifying reality for parents with college-bound children. Congress has taken steps to improve the availability of financial assistance for college tuition. The 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which I supported, made student loans more affordable by increasing the allowable level for Pell Grants and setting the lowest loan interest rates in nearly two decades. The bill also provided loan forgiveness for college students who agreed to teach in high-risk schools, while also strengthening the training of future teachers. In addition, I will continue to support significant funding for literacy-, vocational-, and technical-education programs, and broadening opportunities for high-school and adult students through strong educational initiatives, including the Carl D. Perkins Act... I supported the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act that created the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits to make college and higher education more affordable. Both of these programs are currently playing an important role in helping make college and postsecondary education more affordable for many American families, and I will continue to support them. We must do more to make college affordable for all Americans. That is why I have proposed a tax plan that allows Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money to be used for their priorities, including higher education. In addition, I will increase the annual amount families can save in tax-free Education Savings Accounts for college expenses. I will encourage and reward savings and investment by establishing new, tax-deferred Family Security Accounts which can be used for higher education. And I will continue to support funding as generously as possible federal programs, such as Pell Grants, that help make higher education affordable for all Americans." Feb. 25, 2000John McCain

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McKinney, Cynthia (Grn) - Not Clearly Pro or Con Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. House Representative (D-GA), stated in a Mar. 28, 2008 article titled "Cynthia Speaks at Rutgers on Gender, Race and Politics," posted on the All Things Cynthia McKinney website: "I want to subsidize education so students aren't a hundred thousand dollars in debt when they graduate." Mar. 28, 2008 Cynthia McKinney

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Nader, Ralph (Ind) - Not Clearly Pro or Con Ralph Nader, attorney, author, and political activist, stated in a Sep. 13, 2004 article titled "Nader: Outsourcing, Military Draft Major Issues for Students," published in The Michigan Daily: "...[O]verall what we should do is, public universities should move toward lower and lower tuitions until we have it like high school. Australia and New Zealand, for years -- you go to the university in Sydney, I don't know what it is now, but ten years ago you paid about $150 in student fees, and that was it." Sep. 13, 2004 Ralph Nader

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Obama, Barack (D) - Pro Barack Obama, U.S. Senator (D-IL), stated in an Apr. 6, 2005 article titled "Remarks of Senator Barack Obama at the Herblock Foundation Annual Lecture" on his official candidate website: "And so, as I stood in those Illinois colleges listening to students tell me about their problems, I started thinking, when did the cost of college stop becoming our problem? When did the headlines about skyrocketing tuition start getting crowded out by Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart, and when did this national priority start playing second fiddle to the latest partisan food fight in Washington? I'm not sure, but I do know that I've met enough good citizens who think about the other guy and want to change this. And I believe there are enough members of both parties who want to start this country down the path of making college affordable and accessible for every American... I believe it's time for Congress to follow your lead. This week, I'm introducing the Higher Education Opportunity through Pell Grant Expansion Act - the HOPE Act. This bill will make college more affordable for 430,000 Americans by increasing Pell Grant awards." Apr. 6, 2005 Barack Obama

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Paul, Ron (R) - Not Clearly Pro or Con Ron Paul, U.S. Representative (R-TX), voted against "Higher Education Access Act of 2007" (H.R. 2669) on July 20, 2007: "The College Cost Reduction Act (H.R.2669) seeks to lower the cost of higher education by reducing lender subsidies by $19 billion and then investing those funds in programs that increase grant amounts to students, improve access to student loans, cut interest rates on student loans, provide for the repayment of parts of the loans through employment or service in areas of national need, and reward colleges for lowering costs to students." July 20, 2007 "H.R. 2669: Higher Education Access Act of 2007," Govtrack.us

CANDIDATES WHO HAVE WITHDRAWN OR WHO NO LONGER MEET OUR CRITERIA     Biden, Joe (D) - Pro Joe Biden, U.S. Senator (D-DE), stated in a May 15, 2007 press release titled "Sen. Biden Champions Legislation to Make College More Affordable": "College is on the verge of becoming a luxury good. Rising costs are putting college out of reach for more and more Americans...If we expect to maintain our status as a leader in the global economy we must do more for our students." May 15, 2007 Joe Biden Top      Brownback, Sam (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Oct. 19, 2007; no position found as of that date Top    Dodd, Chris (D) - Pro Chris Dodd, U.S. Senator (D-CT), in a Sep. 7, 2007 article titled "Statement of Senator Dodd on the Passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act" on his Senate website, stated: "Today's passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act is a long overdue investment in the future of the United States. At a time when our world is growing more complex and interconnected, it is essential that higher education remains within reach of every American so that all of our students are prepared to compete in the global marketplace. We live in a time when far too many students and their families are getting priced out of college and the American dream." Sep. 7, 2007 Chris Dodd Top    Edwards, John (D) - Pro John Edwards, former U.S. Senator (D-NC), stated in a Jan. 23, 2004 The Chronicle of Higher Education article titled "Q&A: The Democratic Candidates on Higher Education": "Over the past 20 years, tuition has risen by far more than family income and, this year, it has increased by as much as 30 or 40 percent in some states. College debt now averages $17,000, the most ever, and it is increasing rapidly." Jan. 23, 2004 John Edwards Top      Gilmore, Jim (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Aug. 14, 2007; no position found as of that date Top      Giuliani, Rudy (R) - None Found     No position found as of Oct. 30, 2007. ProCon.org also emailed the Giuliani campaign on Oct. 10, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email or follow up call.   Top      Huckabee, Mike (R) - None Found     No position found as of Oct. 30, 2007. ProCon.org also emailed the Huckabee campaign on Oct. 10, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email or follow up call.   Top      Hunter, Duncan (R) - Not Clearly Pro or Con Duncan Hunter, U.S. Representative (R-CA), voted against "Higher Education Access Act of 2007" (H.R. 2669) on July 20, 2007: "The College Cost Reduction Act (H.R.2669) seeks to lower the cost of higher education by reducing lender subsidies by $19 billion and then investing those funds in programs that increase grant amounts to students, improve access to student loans, cut interest rates on student loans, provide for the repayment of parts of the loans through employment or service in areas of national need, and reward colleges for lowering costs to students." July 20, 2007 "H.R. 2669: Higher Education Access Act of 2007," Govtrack.us Top    Imperato, Daniel (3rd/I) - Pro Daniel Imperato, an Independent candidate and business entrepreneur, issued the following statement through his press secretary, Joseph Oddo, in a Nov. 30, 2007 email to ProCon.org: "Yes, and I have proposed a government certified online college education available to everyone that wants one." Nov. 30, 2007 Daniel Imperato Top      Kubby, Steve (3rd/I) - Not Clearly Pro or Con    Steve Kubby, founder of the American Medical Marijuana Association, stated in an Oct. 29, 2007 email to ProCon.org: "It's kind of a vicious cycle -- government subsidies increase demand, and the increased demand leads to increased prices. Keep in mind that even students who pay 'full tuition' at a state university are usually only paying about 1/3 of what that university spends per credit hour. The rest is direct state funding. Then government steps in to subsidize the tuition payments themselves with grants or loan guarantees. Everyone wants to go to college, and everyone else is paying for it -- a great way to inflate prices." Oct. 29, 2007 Steve Kubby Top    Kucinich, Dennis (D) - Pro Dennis Kucinich, U.S. Representative (D-OH), in a Jan. 23, 2004 The Chronicle of Higher Education article titled "Q&A: The Democratic Candidates on Higher Education," stated: "...[T]he skyrocketing costs of higher education. These costs -- which have been far outrunning inflation -- are now beginning to put higher education out of reach for more and more American families, and saddling far too many students who do go to college with a crushing debt burden after graduation. If something doesn't change, we are in danger of returning to the days when a college education was largely the province of the rich and upper-middle classes." Jan. 23, 2004 Dennis Kucinich Top    McEnulty, Frank (3rd/I) - Pro Frank McEnulty, President of Our Castle Homes, in an Oct. 30, 2007 email to ProCon.org, stated: "To a certain extent I agree that this statement is true, for while I believe that many public colleges are still within a reasonable grasp of the middle class, the cost of a private college education or even the experience of going away to college at a public institution is quickly becoming far beyond the means of most middle class Americans. As the father of two teenage daughters I am acutely/painfully aware of what it will cost me for their college educations depending on where they decide to go to school." Oct. 30, 2007 Frank McEnulty Top    Richardson, Bill (D) - Pro Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, stated in an Oct. 11, 2007 article titled "Speeches: Making America's Schools Work" on his official candidate website: "...[T]hese days, too many of our young people are unprepared for college. And too many of those that are prepared ... cannot afford to go. Only 57 percent of those who graduate high school enroll directly in college the following year. The Bush Administration has presided over soaring college costs. Between 2001 and 2010, two million high school graduates will have been priced out of a college education. And those that do go get to go ... will graduate with extraordinary debts. It is unacceptable. As a nation, we cannot abide the status quo, and we cannot afford fewer college graduates. The cost is simply too high." Oct. 11, 2007 Bill Richardson Top      Romney, Mitt (R) - None Found     No position found as of Oct. 25, 2007. ProCon.org also emailed the Romney campaign on Oct. 10, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email or follow up call.   Top    Smith, Christine (3rd/I) - Pro Christine Smith, a Libertarian candidate and a social and political activist, stated in a Nov. 12, 2007 email to ProCon.org: "Yes, and the reason the costs are always rising is due to the ever increasing amount of public/taxpayer/government money provided as subsidies. A truly competitive marketplace would keep costs low and increase productivity as it does in all other free market enterprises. Subsidies do not help - they hurt. I favor ending government involvement in education." Nov. 12, 2007 Christine Smith Top      Tancredo, Tom (R) - Not Clearly Pro or Con Tom Tancredo, U.S. Representative (R-CO), voted against "Higher Education Access Act of 2007" (H.R. 2669) on July 20, 2007: "The College Cost Reduction Act (H.R.2669) seeks to lower the cost of higher education by reducing lender subsidies by $19 billion and then investing those funds in programs that increase grant amounts to students, improve access to student loans, cut interest rates on student loans, provide for the repayment of parts of the loans through employment or service in areas of national need, and reward colleges for lowering costs to students." July 20, 2007 "H.R. 2669: Higher Education Access Act of 2007," Govtrack.us Top    Thompson, Fred (R) - Pro Fred Thompson, former U.S. Senator (R-TN), stated in a Feb. 9, 2000 article titled "Opening Statement of Senator Fred Thompson Chairman Committee on Governmental Affairs: The Rising Cost of College Tuition and the Effectiveness of Government Financial Aid" on the U.S. Senate website: "The problem of rising tuitions is known to many of us, but it is worth restating for the record. From 1990 through 1996, average tuition for a full-time resident undergraduate student rose 43.8 percent. But during that same period, the consumer price index rose only 15.4 percent and median household income rose a mere 13.8 percent... But there are enumerable other factors that make up the cost and price of a college education: administrative costs; faculty salaries; technology; federal regulation; endowments; state appropriations; and many more. This is clearly a case where not one single factor works in a vacuum to affect the cost and price of a college education. Just as not one single factor affects the cost and price of a college education, there is not one single answer to the problem. Colleges and universities must work to control costs. Public officials must ensure that public aid programs work to the public good. And we must all work together to ensure that purveyors of fraud do not take advantage of students and their families." Feb. 9, 2000 Fred Thompson Top      Vilsack, Tom (D) - None Found   Withdrew on Feb. 23, 2007; no position found as of that date

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