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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Oregon and the Cost of Higher Education: 'Pay It Forward'

    Student borrowers now owe the federal government more than a trillion dollars, and college tuition is on the rise. The legislature in Oregon has adopted a new plan to help students cope with the increased costs of higher education. " Pay It Forward, Pay It Back " is not just for public colleges and universities, but for community colleges, too.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Student borrowers now owe the federal government more than a trillion dollars, and college tuition is on the rise. The legislature in Oregon has adopted a new plan to help students cope with the increased costs of higher education. "Pay It Forward, Pay It Back" is not just for public colleges and universities, but for community colleges, too. It's a model first developed in Australia, reworked by the Economic Opportunity Institute, a think-tank in Seattle. We hear about the plan which students learn now for free and pay later from the earnings made possible by higher education.

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Kerry Cavanaugh

      editorial writer at the Los Angeles Times

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      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      John Burbank

      Economic Opportunity Institute

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sara Goldrick-Rab

      University of Wisconsin-Madison

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jonathan Robe

      Center for College Affordability and Productivity

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