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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Will College Become Unaffordable for a Majority of Americans?

A moment ago, we heard about increased unemployment in the United States. The unemployment rate for college and university graduates is half what it is for the workforce as a whole. But rising costs are putting college and university degrees out of reach for most young Americans.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

A moment ago, we heard about increased unemployment in the United States. The unemployment rate for college and university graduates is half what it is for the workforce as a whole. But rising costs are putting college and university degrees out of reach for most young Americans. In the past 25 years, tuition and fees have gone up 439% while median income has risen by 147%, and student loans are saddling graduates with more and more debt. For the first time in American history, older adults have more education than younger ones, while other countries are educating their children faster. That's ominous news for a country that attained world leadership because of higher education.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

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    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Will Doyle

    Vanderbilt University

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    Arthur Rothkopf

    Department of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity

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    Barmak Nassirian

    independent policy analyst

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