Across the political spectrum, there is widespread concern that the rising price of college requires immediate action. Students and families have shouldered an increasing burden by paying higher tuition and fees and, in many cases, taking on more debt.
While students, parents, and policymakers all know that we face major challenges in addressing college affordability, there is no common definition of what’s “affordable.” Defining affordability in terms of how much students should be expected to contribute toward their education is a first step. Only then can policymakers determine the true extent of the problem and assess which policy proposals would make college truly affordable for today’s student.
Tuition Tracker: Don’t Let the Sticker Price Fool You
See cost trends and real prices for more than 3,800 U.S. colleges and universities and check out graduation rates and student diversity.
The updated fall 2019 version shows how much students really pay for college, based on family incomes.
Visit TuitionTracker.org and start searching. »
The New York Times Student Loan Calculator
This tool illustrates the borrowing picture at various colleges and universities—and what it takes after graduation to repay loans.
Start calculating. »
See also:
A Beginner’s Guide to Repaying Student Loans
Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act
Jamie Merisotis testified that federal policies do not encourage colleges to keep costs down.Watch a portion of the Senate hearing on Exploring Barriers and Opportunities Within Innovation »