House approves 3-year-degrees for R.I. students

PROVIDENCE - Potential college students worried about tuition costs could earn a degree in three years, instead of four, under a bill approved by House lawmakers.

The legislation passed 69 - 1 after a debate at the State House.

Rep. Joseph McNamara’s legislation would force state education officials to create a standard set of college-level courses for high school students. High schoolers who successfully complete the program could earn a degree in three years at Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island.

Republican Rep. Robert Watson was the sole lawmaker to vote against the proposal. He questioned whether lawmakers were rushing undergraduate education and said lawmakers should have done more research on the costs to the state before proposing it.

The bill now heads to the state Senate.