“Today I’m announcing an ambitious new plan to bring down the cost of community college tuition in America. I want to bring it down to … zero.”

A profound statement issued by President Barack Obama that certainly echoed through nation and everyone who desires to attend community college.

President Obama previewed some big issues he will discuss in his State of the Union address, one of which involves free tuition for the first two years of community college.

The nation heard this promise before, “U.S. will lead the world in education once again.” But can we please stop pretending that everybody can or should go to college?

We need our goals to be realistic and as of writing this, President Obama’s proposal lies in obscurity, more of a talking point than a plan.

The program would cover students enrolled in colleges that offer college credit towards a four-year degree or occupational training programs. These part-time and full-time students must earn at least 2.5 GPA (or C+). Approximately $60 billion for 10 years will be allocated towards this program, covering three-fourths of the costs. States involved expect to pay the rest of the tuition. If all states implement President Obama’s proposal, it will cover about nine million students and save each student $3,800 every year.

In perspective, $60 billion for 10 years represents an insignificant sum. Borrowing $6 billion each year translates into 1.2 percent to the federal budget deficit.

Some spectate that the program will call for the government to shift around the budgets and other piles of money. Others argue that new taxes or spending cuts would be the best way to finance the program.

I think the nation can avoid all of that if we drop this proposal. I’m completely for a greater drive to improve education in the United States, but by a different route than President Obama’s path.

Nevertheless, with the possibly increased costs policymakers and voters begin to debate the advantages and consequences of this nationwide program.

President Obama’s plan models Tennessee’s free community college program, Tennessee Promise that attracted 58,000 applicants thus far. 58,000 applicants represent twice as much as expected and consist of 90% of high school seniors.

Like the Tennessee Promise, President Obama’s plan hopes to elevate the United State’s education amongst the world.

The U.S. ranks 12th in education in the world, and it’s true that other nations raised their academic standards beyond what the U.S. and those nations expected. But if a foreign student does well in his high school, guess where they want to go to college.

You’ll never guess where. Okay you can probably guess where, and it’s no surprise that they want to attend universities in the United States.

Harvard, Georgetown, Emory, Southern Methodist University and hundreds of other colleges in the U.S. that are better than the ones in their country.

Tuition for community colleges averages around $3,300 each year.

By a top-down federal payment of the first two years of college, the plan aims to reach and support low-income students that are discouraged from the financial costs.

These same low-income students, families that earn less than $24,000 per year, have access to Pell Grants that already cover the costs of tuition to community colleges.

Pell Grants on average grant up to $5,730 while financial aid averages about $5,000 per year, both of which practically make community college already free.

In his educational legacy, former President Ronald Reagan said, “States should not subsidize intellectual curiosity.” Uncle Sam may foot the bill for community college, but that doesn’t mean more students will attend.

Every airline needs high paid mechanics and most of them never attended college. There are gardeners in parts of the country that make a better living than lawyers.

Now, I’m not saying the nation should lower our ambitions, but we should aim for realistic ones.

A similar free, high quality college program, Massive Open Online Courses offered (as the title suggests) online college courses. However, completion rates average about 6 percent per year. And in this case, “free” meant lower commitment.

While President Obama urges educational norms to expand to at least an associate’s degree, the program will not be mandatory.

A fortunate decision because only 20 percent of students pursuing an associate’s degree earn one in three years.

It’s supposed to take two.

Many programs throw inspiring and idealistic words around such as “free,” “promise” and “hope” because it makes it harder to argue against. “We hope that free college tuition will bring greater promise to our nation’s educational system,” a phrase that if one argued against would be deemed a villain and unpatriotic.

President Obama hopes for bipartisan support on his promise.

The idea of free community college garners widespread support, but why should Uncle Sam stop at community colleges? Why not expand the program to university tuitions across the nation?

College loans cripple students’ financial statuses from coast to coast, why not pardon these students’ debt? Students that forgo entering the work force, carrying debt immediately out of college, and are inspired and committed towards a higher education.

My cousin, Philip was offered admission to Syracuse University. But because he was unable to afford the tuition, he attends Arlington Community College for free on a Pell Grant.

Free community college sounds like a nice sentiment that everybody would love to support, but the costs associated with it outweigh the benefits.

Higher education correlates with a higher standard of living and greater economic diversity.

The tuition associated with a higher education can be as high as $65,000, but for students and employers a higher education remains priceless.

I don’t support this plan specifically, but I believe it’s a step into the right direction. $6 billion each year could be better allocated towards those who need it.

If we’re going to formulate a plan to improve education in the U.S., we have to stop believing that every student can attend Stanford. But most students who attend Stanford come from high schools in the United States.

More grants, more scholarships, higher wages for professors and teachers, and improvements on the infrastructure of high schools and universities could better assist in transforming the education system in the U.S.

Universities in the U.S. continue to nurture the best scientist, the best doctors, the best professors and by far the most Nobel prizes.