Tallahassee, FL -- February 6, 2012 --

Surrounded by a small group of FSU students Vice President Joe Biden pitched a plan to lower the cost of college.

“Barack, Michelle, Jill and I know we would not be in the position we are in today if it were not for our ability to borrow money,” said Biden.

The Obama administration’s plan includes awarding more Pell grants, doubling the number of work-study jobs and freezing student loan rates scheduled to double by year’s end. Meanwhile tuition is in Florida is increasing 15 percent a year.

“The question is not whether or not we can afford these initiatives, the question is how can we do anything other than push these initiatives?”

The average student in Florida graduates college with 20-thousand dollars in student loan debt and the cost is increasing. Lawrence Dunn, a senior from Orlando barrowed 20-thousand dollars for school. He asked Biden if government involvement in tuition and loans are to blame for the skyrocketing cost.

“If we went the way, your view of the free market view route, what we would have done is we would not have increased Pell grants for example and there would be nine million fewer students in college,” said Biden.

Dunn wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

“It creates this perpetual problem where tuition keeps going up so we give more subsidies and tuition goes back up and we give more subsidies, it’s unsustainable,” said Dunn.

The Obama Administration’s is pitching a policy to incentives schools that lower college costs. It comes as student loan debt nears the one trillion dollar mark. Biden’s visit comes as state lawmakers are trying to raise the price of tuition against the governor’s wishes. Biden’s also staying in Tallahassee tonight to host two fundraisers for the president’s reelection campaign.