In the years following a recession, Americans often find themselves in more frugal situations. Consumer spending is only now beginning to reach its former level. Though no longer reported in our everyday news, the national budget and deficit continue to hang over our heads. 
However, there is one area where spending continues to grow. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, average prices for undergraduate tuition, room and board at public institutions of higher education rose 42 percent from 2000-01 to 2010-11. In that time, the cost of an average four-year institution went from $15,996 to $21,657. In order for students to obtain higher education, the government must lessen the burden of paying for school.
Here in Utah, and especially at the U, we find ourselves in a better position than most, ranking third lowest in total cost for attendance according to the Utah System of Higher Education. And of our graduating students, only 45 percent graduate with debt, which on average is less than the national average ($17,227 in Utah versus $26,600 nationwide).
Even with all the good news in Utah, we are not immune to the growing woes of the higher education system. Tuition has continued to increase in recent years, as we see another five percent rise this year approved. That rising cost places an increasing burden on the students.
From 2008 to 2011, state funds per student decreased from 67 to 49 percent, and students have to make up that difference somehow — increasingly through student loans. College graduates face a bleak employment market, with a recent study by Northeastern University for the associated press finding in 2012 that almost 54 percent of recent graduates find themselves either unemployed, or underemployed.
The Utah Legislature recently reaffirmed their commitment to see at least two thirds of eligible students obtain a college degree or professional certification by 2020. And according to the Utah System of Higher Education, holders of degrees from a institution of higher education earn about 50 percent more annually than a worker with a high school degree.
A degree of higher education can help many people achieve better economic status. But that is not a guarantee in this economy, and the state government should recognize that fact. We are ranked 47th in the nation for need-based financial aid, and Utah student use of Pell Grants has increased remarkably more than it has nationally.
If the government wants to see more Utahns obtaining an education beyond high school, they should look for ways to help those students rather than continuing to increase the cost of secondary education and placing that burden on the students. We already have a system of higher education that excels in many ways, and we can only hope that the state leaders will continue to look for ways to make it more accessible to those who strive for higher education.