Is College Unaffordable? - In Brief

Getting Schooled

• Rapidly rising tuition has students, parents and policymakers concerned about the affordability of a college education. They point to lagging state appropriations and a steady increase in student loans and overall debt as signs that college affordability—and access—is being compromised, particularly for students of modest means.

• Trends suggest otherwise. Enrollment is increasing for students of all incomes, mostly because financial aid has kept pace.

• And while many bemoan the debt accrued by students, research shows that borrowing can actually have a positive effect on persistence and graduation rates. Moreover, debt repayment after graduation remains affordable for the large majority of students.

Is College Unaffordable? [complete article]