Desire + national service = education: a national service program will enable more black students to obtain advanced degrees.

President Clinton has unveiled many new initiatives since taking office. But few could brighten the future of the nation's youth as much as a national service program. This voluntary initiative will provide a new way for young people to finance a college education. When fully implemented, it will expand higher education opportunities for many students who, otherwise, might not be able to attend college, or might attend only under the weight of major loans.

The program should also bolster the increase in black college enrollment, a trend first observed during the 1970s. Over the past decade, the number of black public high school graduates has risen by 44,000 per year, reaching 2.9 million in 1992. Over the same period, the total number of public high school graduates fell by 4.6 million.

Black high school graduates are continuing on to higher education in larger numbers each year. Between 1970 and 1990, the percentage of black high school graduates enrolled in college rose from 15.5% to 25.4%, while the percentage of all high school graduates enrolled in college edged up from 26.4% to 33.1%. Black college enrollment grew by almost 11% during the 1980s.

For millions of Americans - and especially for black students - federal financial aid is indispensable to the successful pursuit of higher education. About five of every 10 students receive financial aid. In 1986, nearly 50% of black college students, versus 25% of all students, came from families with annual incomes of less than $17,000. Conversely, only 25% of black students, versus half of all students, are from families with annual incomes of $30,000 or more.

During the last decade, federal financial aid shifted away from grants and toward loans. And black students depend most heavily on student loan programs. During the 1989-90 school year, 49% of black college students, versus 29% of all students, received Title IV financial aid loans, low interest loans based on need.

Many students complete college heavily burdened with loans, which increase exponentially for those continuing on to graduate school. A plan designed to permit students to retire such debts through community service will reap benefits not only for personal financial balance sheets, but also for society. Hard pressed, financially strapped cities can offer young adults the opportunity to work in libraries, health centers, public schools, social services facilities and other community locations. The challenge of working toward unmet social needs will benefit participants, while improving the quality of life in many communities.

The best known youth service models are the Campus Outreach Opportunity League, the Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education and the District of Columbia Service Corps. These and others like them operate at colleges and in communities of every size. It is key that a national service program be a grass-roots endeavor and not a bureaucracy.

Despite the promise of national service, several questions remain. First, when will service take place? Before or after college? A variety of educational settings - including vocational schools, two- and four-year colleges, and graduate programs - should be eligible.

Second, can the program be structured to assure the participation of historically black colleges and universities? These schools still enroll and graduate a large number of black students. To advance equal education opportunity, any national service program must include a prominent place for historically black institutions.