According to the National Center of Education Statistics, in 1980 the average cost to go to a four-year institution was $2,550.

30 years later, the average cost is $15,014. This dramatic 588 percent increase is still 37 percent higher than inflation over the same time period and many are wondering what can be done to help students.

President Obama has offered a plan to lower the tuition costs by increasing federal grant money for low-interest loans. “You can’t assume you’ll just jack up tuition every year,” He told students at University of Michigan in January. “If you can’t stop tuition from going up, your funding from taxpayers will go down.

Obama has made it clear that he wants our education system to become available to all citizens of the United States. America’s education costs can be too outrageous for many families, even with some loans and grants. The Obama administration has been pushing universities all over the nation to cut their tuition and if they fail to make an effort to do this then the federal funding from taxpayers will go down significantly. This plan is really in its first steps because as of now there is no way to accomplish this task as of yet.

Current college students, such as Milford High School graduates Alex Barhorst and Taylor Walworth, have really been impacted from these increases and would like something to happen. Michigan State freshman Alex Barhorst would like to have these increases be under control, but understands that it won’t happen in the near future.

He respects the fact that Obama brought the issue up and would really like to help students have a better education with lower costs. “What I would consider a success is that Obama raised awareness of this omnipresent issue,” Barhorst said, “There is no guaranteed plan that will fix the problem of rising tuition costs in this country, but as the old saying goes you miss every shot you never take. We do have to try something.”

Taylor Walworth is going to Columbia College in Chicago, which is a private school, and private schools, like in this case, may have higher costs than public universities. Plus, private schools could potentially increase their prices every year. According to dailyfinance.com, private schools costs, around the nation, have increased over 79% over the past 10 years and continue to rise each year due to new additions to the schools. The nces.ed.gov site shows that in 1980, to go to a private school, it cost, on average, a student $5,594 to go to a four year college and now the average is $ 32,790.

“Tuition alone costs about $20,000 per year, and when you add housing, I’m paying between $30,000 and $35,000.” Walworth stated, “Tuition costs are going to increase about five percent at my school next year.”

As Obama’s plan is in discussion for awhile, one way to help these high costs and can get students into a good school is by some financial aid packages. Financial aid is highly considered from counselors because it can really open up opportunities for students looking for a good education. Aid for college can be included in a scholarship chance or just getting good grades in high school. But financial aid is the biggest attention getter. Students can also fill out a FAFSA form for students who need aid for college costs; this is recommended for students.

Walworth wants students to go for opportunities if possible. “Apply for loads of scholarships. Walworth said “Make sure you fill out a FAFSA and get everything you can. As a rule, schools want you to consider them seriously, so they’re pretty good about making sure students have plenty of opportunities to make up tuition costs.”

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is described as a gateway for students that want to go to college. A student can fill out this form a Student Aid Report is given and it points out the specific areas a student need help in. Any level of needs, minimal or extreme, FAFSA can help that student out. If you are not a citizen, do not have a high school degree, or if a student committed a crime he or she may not be able to be qualified for FAFSA help. Students can fill out a form on the website fafsa.ed.gov. The state deadline to get these in is March 1st.

Counselor Mrs. Pryor has seen these sudden increases in costs and would like students to take chance in financial aid if they can’t afford the school they would like to go to. “When you first initially look at the price tag of a school, don’t get discouraged from applying there,” Pryor said, “There is a lot of financial aid opportunities available and even a pricier school, like a private institution, that may look out of reach at first may be even less expensive with financial aid packages”

In Michigan there are many colleges a student can attend, but some of them have much higher costs than others. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has the highest tuition in Michigan with $34,937. Other colleges that have considerably high tuition costs are Kalamazoo College with $34,417, University of Detroit Mercy at $30,660, and Albion College with $30,006. These are the highest but students shouldn’t get discouraged by the prices because many loans are available if needed.

Barhorst wants future students to have limitations if financial aid doesn’t work out as planned. “Know your limitations. If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it. Talk to your parents to find out what kind of budget they would deem reasonable. Know that if you can’t make it into the school you dreamed of as a child, it is not the end of the world. Your college experience will be what you make of it, and you can have a fun and enriching experience no matter where you go.”

Barhorst said as long as a school is within your budget, don’t rule it out in favor of a cheaper one just because you are concerned about paying off the debt in the future. “College will be the greatest time of your life. Where you choose to go to school should depend on what feels right to you.”