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Most discussions about college affordability and families’ ability to pay for college focus exclusively on tuition and fees. This focus sometimes leads to policy recommendations that aim to eliminate tuition and fees without providing additional resources for students from low-income households to buy books and supplies and cover their living expenses while they are in school. Making tuition and fees free does not prevent students from borrowing at high rates.
This brief from the Urban Institute provides background for discussions of how public policy can support students who, unable to work full time for pay, must cover food, housing, child care, transportation, and other costs in addition to tuition, fees, books, and other supplies.