Trump promises to implement free, online ‘American Academy’ as higher ed alternative
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former President Donald Trump promised to implement a free, online academic platform called American Academy that would compete with a traditional four year Bachelor’s degree.
“Its mission will be to make a truly world class education available to every American free of charge, and do it without adding a single dime to the federal debt,” Trump said.
He explained that the platform would be paid for by “taxing, fining and suing excessively large private university endowments.”
“This institution will gather an entire universe of the highest quality educational content, covering the full spectrum of human knowledge and skills, and make that material available to every American citizen online, for free,” he said.
“Whether you want lectures on ancient histories, or an introduction to financial accounting or training in a skilled trade, the goal will be to deliver it and get it done properly,” he added.
Trump said that by using study groups, mentors, industry partnerships and the “latest breakthrough” in computing, he believes it will be a “truly top tier” education option for Americans.
Additionally, he mentioned that it would be “strictly nonpolitical” and there would be no “wokeness or Jihadism allowed.”
“Most importantly, the American Academy will compete with the existing and very costly four year university system by granting students degree credentials that the U.S. government and all federal contractors will henceforth recognize,” Trump said. “The academy will award the full and complete equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree.”
“In addition, to help the 40 million Americans who have some college education but no degree, the American Academy will grant credit for past coursework at legacy institutions and give you the chance to complete your education at the American Academy for free and much more quickly than is now possible or available,” he said.
Trump finished by saying it will be a “revolution in higher education” and will provide “life changing opportunities for tens of millions” of the nation’s citizens.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of college tuition in the U.S. $9,375 per year.
Florida ranks first as the most affordable state in the nation for tuition, with the average cost being $4,541. Wyoming is a close second with an average of $4,785.
Vermont is considered the most expensive state for tuition, with an average cost of $17,593.
Gov. Ron DeSantis celebrated Florida’s higher education quality and affordability on several occasions.
“Florida schools are some of the best in the nation, and these rankings show that our investments in higher education and our focus on providing an affordable, quality education are paying off,” DeSantis said previously.
“I am especially proud that we have not allowed tuition increases since I have been governor, making higher education in Florida as affordable as virtually anywhere in the nation,” he said.
