The skyrocketing cost of higher education has made it increasingly difficult for students to afford university. In the United States, the average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year public college has increased by more than 250% since 1985, while the average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year private college has increased by more than 150% during the same period. This has led to a situation where many students are forced to take on large amounts of debt in order to pay for college, and some are even forced to give up on their dreams of higher education altogether.
Despite the high cost, there are a number of ways to make college more affordable. One way is to apply for financial aid. The federal government offers a variety of grants and loans to help students pay for college, and many states also offer their own financial aid programs. Another way to make college more affordable is to attend a community college for the first two years of your education. Community colleges typically have lower tuition rates than four-year colleges, and they offer a variety of programs that can help you transfer to a four-year college to complete your degree.