Decision 2004: financial aid: szing up the candidates' positions.

With an election year looming, it's a good time to take stock of where the presidential candidates stand on an issue of key importance to

higher education: college aid. In the crowded field of Democratic challengers, many have made ambitious proposals for increasing access to higher education and curbing tuition costs. Some plans involve expanding existing grant and loan programs, while others would require a commitment to public service in exchange for free or reduced tuition.

"[The Democrats] see this as a critical difference between themselves and what the Bush administration is doing or, more pointedly, what the Bush administration is not doing," said former Clinton education adviser Robert Shireman.

According to a survey conducted by the Los Angeles Times (and our own visits to the candidates' campaign Web sites), the following are the highlights of their plans:

George W. Bush has announced no proposal, but will focus on the "broad goals" of "affordability for education, access to education, and accountability for results."

Wesley Clark would simplify the aid process by ending the Pell grant and other programs, and replacing them with a "universal college grant" of up to $6,000 a year for the first two years of college, mainly for families earning less than $100,000 annually. Clark also wants to establish a $20 billion state and local tax-rebate fund for education and training, to curb tuition hikes at public universities.

Howard Dean's "College Commitment" guarantees that every student who commits in eighth grade to working hard in high school and pursuing a college education will have the resources to earn a degree. In return for that commitment, Dean's plan would provide those postsecondary students with up to $10,000 a year in federal grants or loans, depending on family income level, and would offer college loan relief in exchange for participation in an expanded AmeriCorps program. Dean would also cap loan payments at 10 percent of income (7 percent for teachers, nurses, and public servants) and end loan payments after 10 years (although students would still have the option of repaying at lower rates over a longer period).

John Edwards proposes one year of free tuition in exchange for 10 hours a week of community service work during that year. Edwards also urges an end to legacy admissions and early decision programs; proposes saving money by streamlining the federally backed college loan system; and urges states to put all high school students in college prep curricula.

Dick Gephardt would expand federal grant and loan programs to keep up with the rising tuition costs, increasing the eligibility for financial aid among middle-class families. He would also make the first $10,000 of higher education costs tax-deductible.

John Kerry's "College Opportunity Tax Credit" would provide a credit for each year of college on the first $4,000 paid in tuition. Kerry would also give students the chance to earn the equivalent of their state's four-year public college tuition in exchange for two years of national service.

Dennis Kucinich would cover $4,000 in tuition for students in state colleges, paid for partly by repealing tax cuts for high-income taxpayers.

Joe Lieberman proposes nearly doubling Pell grants from the current maximum of $4,050 to $7,760 in four years. In addition, Lieberman proposes changing the current law so that Pell grant eligibility will not count against a family's eligibility for tuition tax credits, allowing lower income families with some tax liability to also benefit from tax credits.

Al Sharpton has made no formal higher education proposal to date, focusing his message on K-12 education.--Sources: Los Angeles Times, candidates' Web sites