Forbes
Septemeber 2nd, 2014
Of late, higher education is abuzz with the question, “Will Oregon Be the First State with a College Trust Fund?” For those who care about college affordability in the long term, there are plenty of reasons to hope not.
A recent piece on the topic begins by noting that major universities work to build large endowments in part to fund scholarships for worthy applicants with financial need. It asks, “Should states do the same?” This fall, Oregon will decide. The “Opportunity Initiative” has been proposed for the state’s November ballot. It would set up an “ongoing investment trust fund for higher education,” authorizing Oregon to issue bonds in order to begin the fund, the proceeds from which would be devoted entirely to funding state scholarships.