Students And Families Hit Hard By Public College Tuition Hikes - Forbes.com

Students And Families Hit Hard By Public College Tuition Hikes - Forbes.com

Students And Families Hit Hard By Public College Tuition Hikes

Archana Rajan, 04.20.10, 06:00 AM EDT

Costs soar as states jack up tuition and fees amid budget woes.

It wasn't quite a 1960s re-enactment, but the Day of Action to Defend Education protest held by university students on March 4 had some serious pep.

"Public education is under attack, fight back," and "Education is a right, fight," declared banners across the country. Unfortunately for students intent on keeping college affordable, they're battling against formidable financial odds--so formidable, in fact, that a growing number of students and parents may have to start asking themselves whether higher education is worth the cost.

As lawmakers vote to bridge budget shortfalls, they're leaning on public colleges to share Lagging tax revenues and double-digit unemployment have left states battered, and students are feeling the heat. Unlike private universities, many of which are bolstered by large endowments and private donors, public universities rely heavily on state funding.