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President Barack Obama has addressed the issue of higher education at three public universities and three community colleges, since his State of the Union address. In National Governor’s Association meeting, he asked governors to provide more funds for higher education. He proposed various federal incentives for colleges to control skyrocketing tuition. He emphasized the importance of job skills training in growing the economy.

President’s speeches were not campaign related, but they were related to policy. However, Democrats have hopes that Obama’s attention to higher education access and affordability will pay off politically. His focus on higher education could give him an opportunity to be seen as a candidate supporting young aspirations and offer a austere contrast to his Republican opponents.

Trey Grayson, director of the Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School of Government said that higher education is a good issue for Obama politically, as it is a way to attract an important community. He added that Republicans see the college affordability issue as tricky.

Many experts say that the federal government has very few chances to move, when it comes to turn the college cost curve. Hence President’s attempts to make college more affordable have little scope. However, Obama could attract young voters by acknowledging ever-increasing tuition as a problem.

Obama told students at the University of Michigan that higher education is the most important investment they can make to get a better future. He emphasized that the students and their families only can understand the face that the investment in higher education is becoming more and more expensive.

Obama said student loan debt has exceeded credit card debt. He told that it is inexcusable. He stressed that in the upcoming decades, more than 60% of new jobs will require candidates with college degree or more. High school diploma will not be enough to get a good job.

Tuition and fees at public four- year colleges increased 72% more than the past decade, while tuition and fees of community colleges increased by 45%. The cost of tuition and fees of private nonprofit four year colleges went up by 29%.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimates that the outstanding balance of student loan debt will be around $870 billion. About two thirds of the debts are held by people under the age of 40. The enthusiastic young freshmen who voted for Obama in 2008 were the most indebted graduating group.

Heather Smith, president of Rock the Vote specified that college affordability has always been an issue in all the polls for the past several years.

This is the reason for why supporting higher education has been a bipartisan cliché. Experts say that higher education is the most important goal for almost all young people and their parents. In fact, well educated people are the important group that settles well financially.

However, the most important Republican presidential candidates do not give importance to this. When talking about higher education, they either questioned about its value or pointed out colleges costs are not the problem of federal government.

The Obama administration has increased funding for Pell grants provides tax credits for tuition costs and restricts annual student loan repayment amount for some borrowers. These efforts could help him in 2012 election.