How to solve Wisconsin’s “brain drain”? Looming over the head of the state Legislature for years, the “brain drain” conundrum is a complex problem to solve. One definitively wrong way to solve it? Free tuition.

First mentioned in early December, this idea quietly died when students fled Madison during winter break. Sure, trading a free college education for a 10-year commitment to stay in Wisconsin and work seems like a good idea, but, as state Rep. Sue Jeskewitz, R-Menomonee Falls, said in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “Where’s the money going to come from?”

The original idea claimed the state would simply borrow the funds at first and then the program would eventually fund itself and repay the debt in the form of taxes from the increased work force. However, one of the biggest issues surrounding the “brain drain” is Wisconsin’s unfriendly job market.

Proponents of the plan claimed the increased work force would attract businesses to Wisconsin and we’d all live happily every after.

Unfortunately, reality doesn’t work that way. This plan in no way guarantees a booming economy and it is just as likely to lead to high unemployment.

Also, if a graduate cannot find a job then they are not technically working in the state and would be forced to pay back the tuition dollars. Accept a job out of state and get a bill in the mail for tuition, or take a chance on a wobbly Wisconsin job market and, if unable to find a job, be forced to pay the money back anyway. Sounds like a hostage situation.

Even if Wisconsin increased its job market so graduates could successfully find jobs, with a reported budget gap of $1.6 billion the state legislature and Gov. Jim Doyle have more important things to worry about than giving students a free ride. There is also the possibility of these students taking their college experience for granted.

Numerous students already glide through school partying and hanging out with friends without ever putting forth much effort. While some incentive program—such as maintaining a 3.0 GPA—would probably be put in place, using state dollars to fund free-loaders isn’t exactly smart policy.

Furthermore, if we can’t even agree in this country to fund a populist approach to health care, there is no way a similar approach to education would pass the smell test of the average American. While the proponents of the plan wanted a revolutionary concept, or a “big bang” idea as some have called it, they went too far when a much more reasonable approach is possible.

Short of offering free tuition to students, an interest-free loan package could help alleviate the problem. Ken Harwood, a member of the Verona City Council, advocated such an approach in an email to The Daily Cardinal.

First, Harwood says, above-market rate loans would be made easily available. Second, after graduation students would set up a plan with annual payments to repay the loan. Finally, the interest on the loan could be deducted on their Wisconsin state tax return.

In-state student tuition for the 2006-’07 school year was $6,730. With a yearly tuition increase of 7.1 percent, as it has been the past two years, a four-year education comes to $29,926. The average student loan rate is 6.8 percent and, paid off over 20 years, this comes to a total of $54,825—a difference of almost $25,000.

What student wouldn’t be willing to stay in the state and work if they could save this amount of money? Instead of an annual payment of more than $2,700, the payment would almost be cut in half to just under $1,500.

Not only does this loan idea give all students the opportunity to put off the cost of college interest-free, it definitely creates an incentive to stay in the state and work.

The above-market rate would help subsidize the loans in addition to the investment of quality workers in the economy.

While we will never be able to offer free tuition to Wisconsin students because of limitations in the budget, smart and viable solutions do exist and can be put to work to make college affordable for everyone, boost the economy and, ultimately, solve Wisconsin’s “brain drain.”