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Deep state cuts in funding for higher education over the last decade have contributed to steep tuition increases and pushed more of the costs of college to students, making it harder for them to enroll and graduate, according to a new CBPP report that features 50-state data.
Since 2008, just before the Great Recession fully took hold, overall state funding for public colleges has been cut by more than $6.6 billion, after adjusting for inflation.
Rising tuition threatens affordability and access, leaving many students and their families either saddled with onerous debt or unable to afford college altogether. This is especially true for students of color, low-income students, and students from non-traditional backgrounds.
Higher costs jeopardize the well-being of individuals, as well as whole communities, which increasingly rely on highly educated workforces to grow and thrive. To build an economy that works for more people, state lawmakers must increase funding for public colleges, bolster need-based aid programs, and focus funds on colleges with the fewest resources.
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