College tuition in the United States has increased dramatically in recent years. According to the Education Data Initiative, the cost of tuition at public 4-year institutions increased 36.7% from 2010 to 2023. With such high costs, families and students are seeking additional options to manage the financial strain. 

Hanna Hatfield, a senior, plans on attending a 4-year college or university, followed by medical school. 

“It’s a really challenging issue,” said Hatfield. “Rising prices put more pressure on students and their families, which limits the ability for higher education or having a variety of options. It also increases debt, which can impact students years after college.”

Hatfield says many students must now prioritize cost over preference when choosing a college. 

“I have seen a lot of family friends go to community college for two years and then transfer to a four-year college for free or at a lower cost. I also see people taking gap years to save up money straight out of high school then going to a community or four year university after,” said Hatfield. 

Senior Leena Karmarkar also plans on attending a four year institution. Karmarkar said the high cost of tuition can impact students’ stress levels and limit their options. 

“It gives a lot of stress, especially with students who might not be able to afford college as much as another student. Filling out scholarship applications along with college applications can definitely be stressful, as well as having to decide where you want to go to college based on the cost and not based on where you think you’ll succeed the most,” Karmarkar said.

According to an article by Northeast Technical Institute, one of the major factors contributing to the rise in college tuition is the overall economic climate, with another being colleges struggling with their endowments, forcing them to rely more on tuition fees and passing the increased costs onto students.

“[It is difficult to deal with costs], especially if students are planning to attend grad school and take on more debt or do not have a high paying job straight out of college. It makes it more [challenging] to be financially independent with the burden of debt,” Hatfield says.