According to the College Board, the people who bring us the SAT, tuition at public universities rose 35 percent over the last five years.  While costs are going up, funding for federal Pell Grants for low-income students are falling. The spending went from $13.1 billion in the 2004-05 school year to $12.7 billion in the 2005-06 school year.

Funding for Pell Grants fell because of changes to the eligibility rules that make it more difficult for some families to meet the income limits for their child to receive a Pell Grant.  Contributing to the problem is that the amount of the maximum Pell Grant, $4,050, hasn't changed in three years. According to the Wall Street Journal, the maximum grant covered 42 percent of the average cost of tuition, room and board and fees in 2001-02, but it covered only 33 percent of that cost in 2005-06.

The College Board said 20 percent of student loans in 2005-06 came from banks and other private lenders, compared with 4 percent 10 years ago.

So, at at time when we need an educated workforce, it is becoming increasingly difficult for most people to afford higher education.