Here's an interesting concept:
The Kalamazoo Promise
Local anonymous benefactors have pledged money for 100% tuition for four years to any public institute of higher learning (including vocational/community colleges in addition to universities) for ALL graduates+residents (must be both) of the local KPS public school system (which of course, Dom doesn't attend), regardless of gender, socio-economic status, and to a large extent, grades (I think you have to keep it above a D+ average).
Sadly, it took this offer to get the KPS system to decide that they needed to adjust their curriculum (and grade standards... no more "social promotion" to the next grade level even if Johnny can't read) so that all kids who graduated could be "college ready" at graduation. I'm sorry, shouldn't that have been a goal whether kids had free college waiting for them or not?
This is seen as a long-term economic fix for the area -- a well-trained and -educated workforce is helpful for attracting companies to the area.