When teenagers think of someday going off to college, they often foresee great visions of freedom, choice of education and a new start; however, making that college experience happen is actually a bit more complicated.

For every two Americans, one will skip college because it is too expensive. While 98 percent of Americans believe college is a worthwhile investment and should be a part of their future, only 38 percent of Americans know how they’re going to pay for all four years. The cost of college doesn’t hit many people until it comes time to pay up.

With tuition costs rising by 4.5 percent for private universities and 8.5 percent for public colleges, students are relying more on financial aid, scholarships and grants to afford the costs of attending universities. Students are also borrowing more money through loans, so they can pay for their tuition.

From 1980 to today, the cost of tuition for four-year public universities has increased by a factor of six. This increase not only puts a strain on parent savings, but it also makes the financial aid process all the more competitive.

Compared to every other country in the world, American tuition is the most expensive. Countries such as Spain and Finland allow students to attend university for free, while in other countries like France the cost of university is paid for by the state.

With the cost of college rising at such an exponential rate, who knows how much it will cost for our children and grandchildren to receive a higher education?

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