How do you feel about congressional Republicans’ new plans for higher education reform?

Support (30%) – "If the rate of student loan borrowers has never been higher and there has been tremendous issues with the existing system, why not overhaul? It's clearly a huge burden on the borrower's and system as a whole. As a former recipient of student loans, and someone who paid them back in full without gov't assistance or write-offs, I support an overhaul of the existing system. Democrats will fight anything, so I don't see the opposition as much other than them filling their duties to oppose. I also don't see the new system holding people back. Those who want to pursue a higher education remain free to do so. There remains various options for them. The only thing holding people back is themselves and their excuses."

• "Capping the maximum amount individuals can borrow and firmly constraining the repayment terms should, in theory, start to apply a necessary corrective feedback signal to the higher education institutions that have had unchecked cost growth for decades. Making college and post-graduate education affordable isn't about making endless amounts of low-interest money available to anyone, its about disincentivizing the colleges and universities from providing a service a cost that is now out of all proportion to the benefit it could offer."

"College in the US is insanely expensive, and I think we’re seeing more and more today that it’s not necessary or worth the price tag for so many jobs. These measures appear to target core issues around debt and college education which is more effective than the previous administration simply forgiving debt without addressing any real issues. The value of a college education is falling, and the cost is a huge barrier. Big, intentional reform is needed to make it more incentivizing to continue sending kids on this path."

• "Prices are often fixed to funds that are known to be available. If higher learning institutions know they’ll only get certain amount, they will develop business models to adapt. Tuition will be lower and students can still go to school, even if it will have to be at a place with lower tuition. There are many colleges that are available with tuition amounts that could be funded by this proposed reduction. They’ll have to work part-time jobs, but frankly, if I did it, so can anyone else."

Oppose (54%) – "I like the spirit of the plan, but like everything else in this administration, I feel like things are being rushed. Cutting the amounts available for student loans sounds great in theory, but it doesn't do anything to decrease the cost of higher education. This will force people to seek out other options - like private lenders - at a higher cost. How is this helping?"

• "The cost of education is not gonna go down but the amount of money we can get to finance that education will, which means that people won’t be able to go to college unless they can pay out-of-pocket to meet the gap that will be inherent in this program, therefore fewer people will be college educated and find that upward mobility that a college education tends to lead to. This is shutting the door on thousands. If not millions of people who count on student loans to get a college education because they couldn’t afford it otherwise ."

"Many Americans, specifically low-income Americans, will have less access to college with the proposed plans. The $50,000 limit for undergraduates means that low-income students looking to go to more expensive institutions- or private institutions, that typically give less financial aid- will have to earn scholarships to pay their way or choose a cheaper path. The lack of income repayment options will hurt those whose income isn't high enough to meet their monthly student loan payments. The increase in credit requirement for students on the Pell Grant will require them to take at least one additional class, which could hurt students who are working while in school. Essentially, this plan hurts lower and middle-class Americans more than it helps."

• "I am a nursing student getting my second bachelors degree. I have always worked hard but have never had a high-paying job. Federal loans have helped give me these opportunities, but flexibility to repay (SAVE plan for example) would allow me to establish financial stability for the first time. I believe that the GOP wants to consolidate power by removing pathways to higher education, keeping the population “dumber,” therefore easier to control and, historically, more likely to vote republican."

"The students who need financial aid the most are being shut out. Many have to take a lighter class load as they may be supporting their parents or their own family and taking 30 credit hours may not work. Why limit them? It seems another way to increase poverty of those less fortunate from the beginning."

• "These restrictions on student loan availability and repayment attempt to fix the symptoms of a broken system, but do nothing to fix the true root cause. There needs to be education and transparency for 17 & 18 year olds with little financial literacy or guidance prior to them being sold on predatory loans they will never be able to pay back. There needs to be oversight in what higher education is charging per credit hour. I am 10 years out of school and my Alma matter has increased tuition by 25%, but their highest academic scholarship has remained the same….there are so many other ways to start tackling this issue that wouldn’t hurt so many Americans and would help young Americans in the process."

Unsure/other (16%) – "In principle, it makes sense. Students are going to have to go to college that they can afford with the loans the government will offer. Private, more expensive schools are likely going to have to foot the difference if they want “the best and brightest”. What I don’t know is what will be the law of unintended consequences?"

• "I like some things, but I think colleges need to lower tuition costs. They are so over inflated that the average person can't afford college even working and going to school at the same time."