As the 2024 presidential race heats up, one key issue weighing heavily on the minds of many Americans is the rising cost of higher education. With tuition rates and student loan debt continuing to skyrocket, families and students are eager to know where the candidates stand on making college more affordable. From proposals to cancel student debt to ideas for tuition-free college, each of the presidential candidates offers a unique vision for the future of higher education.

These policies will not only affect you, but your student who will most likely be voting in their first presidential election since turning 18.

Saving for College outlined the positions of the 2024 presidential candidates on addressing the financial burden of attending college, and what their plans could mean for students and their families.

These are the issues the article addressed:

• Proposals related to student loan debt
• Enhancing college affordability and accessibility
• Department of Education funding
• Title IX changes

You can read the full explanation of each candidate’s platform here: 2024 Presidential Candidates on Higher Education: A Comparison of Trump and Harris.

Many voters and borrowers, however, may not realize that the president alone cannot implement policies. Significant changes to student loans or education reform will require Congressional approval, regardless of who wins the election.

If control of the Senate and the presidency is divided between parties, passing major reforms will be challenging. This underscores the importance of voting not only for the president but also for your senators and representatives, and participating in midterm elections.