Elizabeth Warren's polarizing plan to make college free

What the critics are saying, and why they're mostly wrong

Elizabeth Warren.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Scott Eisen/Getty Images, Deagreez/iStock, NAimage/iStock)

Elizabeth Warren is not counting on half-measures in her effort to win the White House. The Democratic Senator from Massachusetts is campaigning on big ideas — and the more of them there are, the better.

Her latest offering is a detailed proposal to make two- and four-year public colleges free for students, accompanied by plans to forgive the student loans of up to 42 million Americans, plus a pledge of at least $50 billion in new funding to support historically black colleges and universities. She would pay for all this with her proposed "Ultra-Millionaire Tax" on the 75,000 American families who possess at least $50 million in wealth.

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.