Recap: College Costs & Debt in the 2020 Elections

College affordability has become a top-tier issue in the 2020 presidential election campaign. From eliminating college tuition to canceling student debt, nearly every candidate has proposed ambitious solutions to tackle this issue.

On Thursday, February 6, 2020, TICAS partnered with the University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy and UNH Campus Living Association to host College Costs & Debt in the 2020 Elections. Presidential candidates, political pundits, and higher education experts gathered at UNH Huddleston Hall Ball Room to discuss the state of student debt and college affordability, and what solutions candidates are bringing to the table.

James Kvaal, TICAS president, Michael Ettlinger, founding director of the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire, Daniella Leger, executive vice president, Center for American Progress Action Fund, and Adam Harris, staff writer for the Atlantic kicked off the forum with an insightful panel discussion exploring the topic of college affordability and how the issue is playing out on the campaign trail.

Following the panel discussion, 2020 presidential candidates gave remarks and opened the conversation to address questions from event attendees. Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang spoke first, followed by Senator Michael Bennet (CO), Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.