--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to make sure that college is…" description: "\"We have to make sure that college is accessible and affordable. Two years ago, I stood here and called upon our institutions of higher learning to deve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/rick-perry-1638_affordable_we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-acc_1968123.jpg" --- # We have to make sure that college is accessible and… ![“We have to make sure that college is accessible and affordable. Two years ago, I stood here and called upon our institutions of higher learning to develop plans for degrees that cost no more than $10,000. There were plenty of detractors at that time who insisted it couldn't be done. However, that…” quote by Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/rick-perry-1638_affordable_we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-acc_1968123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/rick-perry-1638_affordable_we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-acc_1968123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/rick-perry-1638_affordable_we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-acc_1968123.jpg) > “We have to make sure that college is accessible and affordable. Two years ago, I stood here and called upon our institutions of higher learning to develop plans for degrees that cost no more than $10,000. There were plenty of detractors at that time who insisted it couldn't be done. However, that call inspired educators at colleges and universities across our state to step up to the plate. Today, I'm proud to tell you that thirteen Texas universities have announced plans for a $10,000 degree.” [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating affordable higher education by setting a $10,000 degree target, inspiring statewide adoption **In simple terms:** Make college cheaper and reachable for all Key Takeaway Push for low‑cost degree programs Themes education affordability policy leadership Mood optimistic determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - State university budgeting - student financial aid planning - legislative advocacy Key Concepts Economic equity public funding institutional innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can quality be maintained with lower tuition? - What funding models support affordable degrees? A Different Perspective Implementation costs may rise, challenging sustainability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Colleges and universities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleges-and-universities/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educator/) [Higher learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-learning/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Step up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-up/) [Texas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/texas/) [Thirteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirteen/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [Paint job cost 10 stacks, rims cost me another ten. So tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2-chainz/paint-job-cost-10-stacks-rims-cost-me-another-ten-so-tell-a-friend-to/) [2 Chainz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2-chainz/) > [“If you always tend to avoid disappointment, at least you have two issues to be dealt with: The first is to soften the hardness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/if-you-always-tend-to-avoid-disappointment-at-least-you-have-two/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Higher learning undergoes emotional pressure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/higher-learning-undergoes-emotional-pressure/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“higher learning takes the intellect to the next level,providing a deeper understanding of the world around us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nilufa-nazar/higher-learning-takes-the-intellect-to-the-next-level-providing-a/) Nilufa Nazar > [“On June 20, 1951, less than four weeks after the Homer case broke, Hoover escalated the FBI’s Sex Deviates Program. The FBI alerted universities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-weiner/on-june-20-1951-less-than-four-weeks-after-the-homer-case-broke/) [Tim Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-weiner/) > [Requiring our higher learning institutions to disclose nefarious sources of income isn't just common sense; it's national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/requiring-our-higher-learning-institutions-to-disclose-nefarious/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [“. . . anyone who wants to elaborate relevant liberation theology must be prepared to go into the 'examination hall' of the poor. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-boff-and-clodovis-boff/anyone-who-wants-to-elaborate-relevant-liberation-theology-must-be/) Leonardo Boff and Clodovis Boff > [“Unlike at the Academy or the Lyceum, women, some of them concubines and mistresses, as well as a few slaves, joined the conversation; further,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/unlike-at-the-academy-or-the-lyceum-women-some-of-them-concubines-and/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [It is equally unreasonable to run a university as a "participatory democracy," the approach to governance that once existed in Europe. That approach in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/it-is-equally-unreasonable-to-run-a-university-as-a-participatory/) [Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/) > [“Take the challenge of your life. Reach out to your goals. There is no limit to what you can achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/take-the-challenge-of-your-life-reach-out-to-your-goals-there-is-no/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Most institutions of higher learning in the West were founded by and for religious denominations. The supposed alienation of education and faith is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/most-institutions-of-higher-learning-in-the-west-were-founded-by-and/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Most people, I suspect, still have in their minds an image of America as the great land of college education, unique in the extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/most-people-i-suspect-still-have-in-their-minds-an-image-of-america/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“You start to live when you commit your life to cause higher than yourself. You must learn to depend on divine power for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-giftyakita/you-start-to-live-when-you-commit-your-life-to-cause-higher-than/) [Lailah GiftyAkita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-giftyakita/) > [You can take a look at the enrollment at major institutions of higher learning. It's 65% female, 35% male. One of the reasons is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-take-a-look-at-the-enrollment-at-major-institutions-of-higher/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We feel strongly that the spirit characteristic of America at its noblest, above all the pursuit of higher learning, cannot admit of any conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-flexner/we-feel-strongly-that-the-spirit-characteristic-of-america-at-its/) [Abraham Flexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-flexner/) ## More by Rick Perry > [I've never struggled with that at all. In the state of Texas, if you come into our state and you kill one of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-ve-never-struggled-with-that-at-all-in-the-state-of-texas-if-you/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We understand that you have to create an environment where that those men and women who are entrepreneurs can risk their capital and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-understand-that-you-have-to-create-an-environment-where-that-those/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [George W. Bush did an incredible job in the presidency, defending us from freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/george-w-bush-did-an-incredible-job-in-the-presidency-defending-us/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-think-there-are-a-substantial-number-of-scientists-who-have/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [What I learned growing up on the farm was a way of life that was centered on hard work, and on faith and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/what-i-learned-growing-up-on-the-farm-was-a-way-of-life-that-was/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [The people who illegally cross into the country are from countries that have very close ties to al Qaeda, whether it's Yemen or Afghanistan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/the-people-who-illegally-cross-into-the-country-are-from-countries/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [It is up to us, to this present generation of Americans, to take a stand for freedom, to send a message to Washington that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/it-is-up-to-us-to-this-present-generation-of-americans-to-take-a/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I know for a fact that Ted Cruz every day uses two checklists - to guide him through his personal and professional life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-know-for-a-fact-that-ted-cruz-every-day-uses-two-checklists-to/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [There is evil prowling in the world - it shows up in our movies, video games and online fascinations, and finds its way into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/there-is-evil-prowling-in-the-world-it-shows-up-in-our-movies-video/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/religious-freedom-does-not-mean-freedom-from-religion/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We need to stop apologizing for celebrating life. We need to stop apologizing for wanting to protect an individual's right to build a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-need-to-stop-apologizing-for-celebrating-life-we-need-to-stop/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [America does not need to be worried with bailing out a European country that has made irresponsible expenditures, and then all of a sudden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/america-does-not-need-to-be-worried-with-bailing-out-a-european/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [It (Social Security) is a Ponzi scheme for these young people. The idea that they're working and paying into Social Security today, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/it-social-security-is-a-ponzi-scheme-for-these-young-people-the-idea/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I don't believe man-made global warming is settled in science enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-don-t-believe-man-made-global-warming-is-settled-in-science-enough/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Reforming public education, cutting property taxes, fixing adult and child protective services and funding our budget can all occur when Democrats and Republicans engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/reforming-public-education-cutting-property-taxes-fixing-adult-and/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) [Explore all 219 Rick Perry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) ## More Affordable quotes > [At LearnVest, we're working to make financial planning both accessible and affordable so that everyone has the opportunity to get on track financially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/at-learnvest-we-re-working-to-make-financial-planning-both-accessible/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) > [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [To protect our country's economic future and the health and well being of all Americans, we must find a way to rein in out-of-control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/to-protect-our-country-s-economic-future-and-the-health-and-well/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) Marilyn Tavenner > [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [My biggest fear, that 27 percent of Americans under 65 have an existing health condition that, without the protections of the Affordable Care Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/my-biggest-fear-that-27-percent-of-americans-under-65-have-an/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The people who are working, paying their taxes are put into the system so that affordable housing could be built in neighborhoods that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/the-people-who-are-working-paying-their-taxes-are-put-into-the-system/) [Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/) > [There's a major underlying idea as you grow up that you need to just save your money and get that affordable housing at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-a-major-underlying-idea-as-you-grow-up-that-you-need-to-just/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Whatever it is that you're successful at, that has to be the No. 1 goal. In my case, it's accessibility. So all of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/whatever-it-is-that-you-re-successful-at-that-has-to-be-the-no-1-goal/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [The smart way to improve broadband is not to junk the existing network but to make the most of it. It’s to let a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/the-smart-way-to-improve-broadband-is-not-to-junk-the-existing/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [So much for Obama's promise of 'quality, affordable health care.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deroy-murdock/so-much-for-obama-s-promise-of-quality-affordable-health-care/) Deroy Murdock > [The Affordable Care Act has been designed to provide health security by driving competition, lowering premiums, and protecting families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/the-affordable-care-act-has-been-designed-to-provide-health-security/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) Browse all 436 Affordable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have to make sure that college is accessible and affordable. Two years ago, I stood here and called upon our institutions of higher learning to develop plans for degrees that cost no more than $10,000. There were plenty of detractors at that time who insisted it couldn't be done. However, that call inspired educators at colleges and universities across our state to step up to the plate. Today, I'm proud to tell you that thirteen Texas universities have announced plans for a $10,000 degree.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Perry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-accessible-and-affordable-two/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affordable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-accessible-and-affordable-two/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/rick-perry-1638_affordable_we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-acc_1968123.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/rick-perry-1638_affordable_we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-acc_1968123.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/rick-perry-1638_affordable_we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-acc_1968123.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have to make sure that college is accessible and affordable. Two years ago, I stood here and called upon…” — Rick Perry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rick Perry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have to make sure that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-accessible-and-affordable-two/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-have-to-make-sure-that-college-is-accessible-and-affordable-two/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```