Students and Families Finding College Unaffordable

The annual report, Measuring Up 2008, from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education found that while family income has risen 147% since 1982, the cost of college has far outpaced those gains by increasing 467%. Student borrowing has doubled, and we are at a point where older Americans are more educated than younger Americans. The US ranks 10th in the world now in terms of population with post-secondary education.

What may be even more illustrative is the percent of family income that goes to college education compared to ten years ago, and the statistics that lower income families actually receive less aid that upper income families. The New York Times has an excellent summary if you want to start with an overview.