National Attention For C of O; College Work Study Program A Debate Topic

By: Monte Schisler, News Director
Posted: Friday, November 11, 2011

Some national attention for College of the Ozarks. Not once, but twice now, Republican Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has touted C of O as a solution to the nation’s student loan debt crisis. During a debate Wednesday night in Rochester Michigan, broadcast on C-N-B-C, the Former Speaker of the House offered up the college as an example of what works:

Newt Gingrich Z596

College of the Ozarks was also talked about during the October 27^th debate when the Republican candidates discussed President Obama’s plan to lower student loan payments.

Speaker Gingrich has first hand knowledge on C of O – he visited campus in 2009, speaking at a student convocation on citizenship.

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College of the Ozarks finds itself in the middle of the debate on the student loan debt crisis. During a debate among the Republican presidential hopefuls this week in Rochester Michigan, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich talked about the success of the college’s work study program – where students can graduate debt free by working at an on-campus job that is sometimes tied to their course of study. Gingrich said if students do have debt, it averages out at 5-thousand dollars because they bought a car:

Newt Gingrich Z597

College of the Ozarks eliminated all federally funded student loan programs in 1995. This is the second time in recent weeks the topic of the college has come up during the republican debates. Speaker Gingrich talked about C of O October 27^th, when the candidates discussed plans to lower student loan payments.

Gingrich visited the campus in the spring of 2009, speaking during a student convocation on citizenship.

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College of the Ozarks finds itself in the middle of the debate on the student loan debt crisis. During a debate among the Republican presidential hopefuls this week in Rochester Michigan, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich talked about the success of the college’s work study program. Gingrich visited campus in 2009, speaking at a student convocation on citizenship.

Comments (2) - comment on this story

Something isn't right here - 11/11/2011 2:51:09 PM

I knew a lady that graduated many years ago from C of O, and some 10 to 15 years later got her student loans paid off.

Audrey-CofO Alum - 11/14/2011 2:10:41 PM

CofO does not cost anything. There is no way it would ever take anyone 10 or 15 years to pay off anything there. They don't beleive in debt, therefore it is not allowed. Even if you choose not to work the summer work program and have to pay for room and board, that is only a couple thousand a year. I graduated from CofO in 2009 100% debt free.