Moylan Passes Pilot Program Aiming to Make College More Affordable

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, recently passed the Relieve College Costs Pilot Program Act which creates a more affordable pathway to earning a college degree and is optimistic that the merits of the program will prove to be well-founded and eventually be adopted by more institutions for higher education.

“In this day and age most career pathways require some sort of college degree, so in order to prepare individuals to enter the workforce we have to find ways to make college more accessible and affordable for students,” Moylan said. “While higher education is an investment, the cost of pursuing a degree should not be financially overwhelming. Students should be able to further their education and learn skills to prepare them for professional life without breaking the bank.”

The Moylan-supported House Bill 2928 creates the Relieve College Costs Pilot Program. Under the program one public high school, one public community college, and one public university shall create a baccalaureate degree program focused on basic competency in fundamental issues and texts. The program will teach students the basic skills needed for employment or further graduate studies using all resources available to make the degree more cost efficient including dual credit courses, online course options, creating a panel to identify resources that are widely available in the public domain and requiring educational institutions to highlight courses that have low-cost options available to students. Under the program the maximum tuition for the entirety of the program shall be no more than $20,000. The legislation has bipartisan support and recently passed the House without opposition and currently resides in the Senate.

“This program is a streamlined cost-efficient college experience that will help more people get the education needed to enter the workforce,” Moylan said. “I am confident that this program will be a success and I look forward to finding more creative solutions to make college accessible to students, regardless of their financial standing.”

For questions concerning House Bill 2928, state issues, other legislation or district matters, please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent office at 847-635-6821 or email StateRepMoylan@gmail.com.