OKLAHOMA CITY
A state lawmaker said Friday he wants to provide free tuition to students at Oklahoma’s community colleges and career techs to help increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma.
The proposal by Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, was immediately endorsed by the heads of several two-year colleges who said it would increase the earning potential of Oklahomans and boost the state’s economy.
“If you look at the economic impact it will bring to our state, it is tremendous,” said President Donnie Nero of Connors State College in Warner.
Workers with bachelor’s degrees typically earn about $50,000 a year more than twice as much as those with high school diplomas and about $15,000 more than workers with associate degrees, said President Bob Klabenes of Oklahoma State University at Okmulgee.
“It’s the right piece of legislation at the right time,” Klabenes said.
Scholarship and incentive programs that encourage high school graduates to get a higher education have helped increase the number of college graduates in the state, Corn said.
