Most Americans Say They Can't Afford Public College

By Tyler Kingkade. A majority of Americans believe the cost of a college education at a state university is unaffordable, but aren't sure they would prefer a radical new tuition proposal being considered in several states, a new Huffington Post/YouGov poll found.
The inflation-adjusted price for undergraduate tuition, room, and board at public institutions rose 42 percent between the 2000-2001 academic year and 2010-2011, according to federal data. When comparing the inflation-adjusted price for 2010-2011 to the cost in 1980-1981, the cost has almost doubled. Increasing tuition at public colleges was in large part driven by state budget cuts, an analysis from the New York Federal Reserve showed. The recession only further fueled the rising costs -- with prices in some cases jumping by as much as 40 percent in a year. More...