College is very expensive in the United States.
While a lot of schools offer needs based financial aid which means schools provide you more grants and loans based on your income. The less you earn the more aid you get. If you make a lot of money the less assistance you get. Sounds fair? If your like many Americans who have survived the downturn in the economy your savings have evaporated. The college may provide you more assistance if your earning less the amount of money your expected to contribute may no longer be possible. And doesn't it feel like the more aid is available the more expensive schools become? Many countries value education so highly that their governments contribute enough to make education either free or very affordable. Parents do not have to sacrifice their children's education because they can't afford it. Access to a college education is based on your academic ability.
Colleges are in competition for students. Colleges are investing millions to build better and better dorms, school buildings and recreational space to attract students. Of course that has a cost. Schools take out loans to build these facilities and pay those loans by raising tuition. Since there is no law to stop schools from raising their tuitions, most schools raise tuition in the hope that financial aid will help students get into schools with these fancy new buildings.
How does the average parent pay for college living at a time where getting a job is more and more dependent on a college education and is getting more and more impossible to pay for it? While we all wish for free or low cost college education, until that day comes in the United States you can either 1) study in Europe and avoid these outrageous tuitions or 2) negotiate between schools to get the best financial aid packages.
