College Tuition Cost

Every year, millions of students in high school across America struggle to endure the stressful challenge of the college application process. While the lengthy procedure is incredibly difficult, the most demanding aspect of the process comes after admissions, when students have already chosen the college they desire. These students must find ways to afford the immense tuition of college, in order to receive the higher education they need for a successful future. Throughout history, higher education in the United States has become increasingly less affordable; currently, the cost of college is detrimental to society because it forms a large gap between social classes as one’s access to college is directly associated with their family’s income.
This is because the cost of higher education has seen an ongoing rise to the point that many families cannot afford it. Over the past few decades, “tuition at public four-year colleges has more than doubled” (U.S. Department of Education). Just from the 2011-12 school year to the 2012-13 school year, tuition for out-of-state students at public institutions rose 4.2%, to $29,056 per year (World Book). When accounting for the United States salaries, this is a massive price to pay. The increase in cost of higher education has tremendous negative effects, even aside from the obvious fact that many students cannot afford to attend certain colleges due to financial situation. According to a study by the Center for Education Policy Analysis at Stanford, about a third of high-achieving students applying to college are in the highest quartile of income, while 74% of students at the top 146 colleges come from the highest quartile of income (The Atlantic). This reveals a giant flaw in the higher education system of America. Based on the study, the increase in college cost has made it so students who come from rich families usually go to better colleges, regardless of academic achievement. Therefore, tuition growth has increased the theoretical gap between students from high-income families and students from low-income families. Higher education is supposed to be one of the great equalizers of all people in the United States;
This is a major issue yet it is one that is often neglected, considering it is an intricate problem without any simple solutions. The astronomical cost of college has caused a decline in students’ ability to afford higher education, something necessary to success in their futures. It has widened the gap between rich and poor, damaging some of the ideals America has stood for from the beginning; such an issue is of substantial importance. The truth of the matter is, the money imperative to funding higher education for students must come from somewhere, and unfortunately the burden has been placed upon the students themselves. Ultimately, the issue of college tuition and its recent vast increases is one that needs more attention in politics and in the public eye, as college should be affordable and accessible for all students, no matter social class or family