With the rising cost of tuition, the stress of college has grown even greater. The average college tuition for public schools (for in-state students) is $22,828, and the average tuition at a private college is $44,750 a year. To afford the college of their dreams, students must work harder to receive any scholarship possible.

Not only private, but also public schools have doubled in tuition price. This can be blamed on the lack of substantial financial aid from the state. As tuition has doubled, state aid has halved, causing many families to suffer the financial consequences. Another cause of these rising costs is not faculty salaries, but the salaries of university presidents and administrators, whose paycheck grows every year. Also, colleges are competing for applicants by building more expensive, newer facilities, which also drive up the cost of tuition.

There is the assumption that the extremely ridiculous cost of a higher education would scare away consumers, but in reality 11.5 million students were enrolled full-time in 2010. Families are willing to spend all of their savings on a college education for their children, in order to secure them a well-paying job in the future, because another problem of our time is lack of work.

Another way to pay the large price tag is through scholarships. Ms. Habersaat, a guidance counselor at Westhampton Beach, states that there are many ways to receive scholarships. “There are many local community scholarships which seniors can apply for in the spring time of senior year. In order to receive them, it’s good to have a previous record of involvement in community service and local causes. You can also contact colleges and do your own research to see if certain schools you are applying to offer scholarships that you might be eligible for. Researching online and through Naviance can help as well,” stated Ms. Habersaat. She also recommended going onto fasfa.ed.gov to find out how much financial aid you might be eligible for. This is also the website you will use to apply for financial aid.

The rising cost of college tuition is a problem for any student looking to further his or her education. However, financial aid and scholarships will help meet some, or most of your need. In the end, the biggest concern might not be paying for college, but getting accepted.