Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, grants Congress the power to "lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States". This clause essentially gives Congress the authority to spend money raised through taxes and other revenue streams.
The government can tie this clause in to justify them spending money to make our solution work.
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that clarified the federal government’s power to influence state policy through conditional funding.
Using South Dakota v. Dole as precedent, the federal government can legally require public colleges to cap tuition increases in exchange for federal funding.
The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment prohibits states from denying any person "the equal protection of the laws."
While the Constitution does not guarantee a right to higher education, courts have recognized that excessively high tuition can functionally restrict access, especially for low-income and marginalized communities.
By implementing a tuition cap tied to inflation, the federal government would be promoting greater educational equity, helping to reduce systemic barriers tied to race, income, and geography, aligning with the equal protection principles of the 14th Amendment.