We know college is important, but why does it have to be so expensive? This is the question being asked by many parents according to the report "Squeeze Play: How Parents and the Public Look at Higher Education Today." Even though the public gives high marks to higher education, the rising costs and debt burden students are now taking on are tainting the image of higher education as an accessible option.

In 2007, 50 percent of the public saw college as absolutely essential while 62 percent were concerned that many qualified and motivated individuals are being denied the opportunity to go to college. In 2003, those numbers were 37 percent and 57 percent, respectively. This is the "squeeze" to which the report is referring—the narrowing gap between the percentages who say that college is essential and the percentage who say that many students cannot go.

Furthermore, anxiety over higher education access is more prominent among minority families. Eight-four percent of African American parents and 67 percent of Hispanic parents believe that many qualified students do not have the opportunity to go to college, compared to 56 percent of whites. The trend persists even when looking specifically at "high-income" minority and white parents.

What do parents think is the cause of these high costs and less opportunity? Over half say that colleges have become like businesses, caring only about the bottom line. Fifty-six percent say that colleges could spend less money and still maintain quality. Forty- four percent of parents believe waste and mismanagement are major factors in driving up the cost of college, yet 46 percent also believe cutbacks in state aid plays a part as well. It is important to note, however, that 49 percent of those surveyed admitted that they do not even know where state colleges get most of their money.

But for parents, quality and access are still the major concerns and any reforms or cuts should not diminish the two. Only 17 percent of those surveyed think cost should be the highest education priority. Quality should never be a trade off for lower costs.

The report, "Squeeze Play: How Parents and the Public Look at Higher Education Today," was prepared by Public Agenda for the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education in collaboration with Making Opportunity Affordable: An Initiative of the Lumina Foundation for Education. You may download a copy of the report at: http://www.makingopportunityaffordable.org/ [Lindsay Albert]

June 4, 2007