At a time when a higher education has never been more important or more expensive, too many students

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, during the college affordability bus tour in Buffalo, N.Y., Aug. 22, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Today, President los angeles used car Obama traveled to the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York to announce his plan to combat the soaring costs of higher education. The speech, los angeles used car the first stop on a two-day college affordability bus tour, is a part of his broader initiative to secure a better bargain for middle class families .
In his remarks, the President Obama laid out three steps to ensure that college remains within reach for all young people: connect financial aid to school performance, support academic innovation los angeles used car and competition, and make college affordable. los angeles used car President Obama said:
At a time when a higher education has never been more important or more expensive, too many students are facing a choice that they should never have to make: Either they say no to college and pay the price for not getting a degree los angeles used car -- and that s a price that lasts a lifetime -- or you do what it takes to go to college, but then you run the risk that you won t be able to pay it off because you ve got so much debt.
In his speech, President Obama said we need to start rating colleges on their value to students. los angeles used car It is time to stop subsidizing schools that are not producing good results, and reward schools that deliver for American students and our future, he said.
President los angeles used car Barack Obama, with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, meets with college students, recent graduates los angeles used car and educators at Magnolia's Deli Café, during the college affordability bus tour in Rochester, N.Y., Aug. 22, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
So we re going to make sure students who receive federal financial aid complete their courses before receiving grants for the next semester. We ll make sure to build in flexibility so we re not penalizing disadvantaged los angeles used car students, or students who are holding down jobs to pay for school. Things happen. But the bottom line is we need to make sure that if you re getting financial aid you re doing your part to make progress towards a degree.
President Obama concluded los angeles used car with the importance of manageable and affordable debt. Our national mission is not to profit off student loans; our national mission must be to profit off having the best-educated workforce in the world, he said.
Later this afternoon at Henninger High School in Syracuse, los angeles used car New York, President los angeles used car Obama will continue to lay out his plan for more affordable college education. los angeles used car This country is only going to be as strong as our next generation, he said. His bus tour will continue tomorrow, stopping at Binghamton University in New York for a town hall event, and at Lackawanna College in Scranton, los angeles used car Pennsylvania to deliver remarks with Vice President Joe Biden. los angeles used car You can watch all the events live here .