Recent surveys reveal that only 12% of Americans consider four-year colleges affordable, with cost being the primary barrier for prospective students. Families are increasingly borrowing to finance education, with nearly half of families taking loans for the 2025-26 academic year.
The average savings reported by parents for college has significantly decreased, from $51,310 in 2025 to $37,897 in 2026, leading to only 16% feeling prepared to cover college costs through savings alone. Legislative changes have also capped federal student loans, with 66% of families supporting these limits.
The rising tuition costs, driven by reduced state funding and increased reliance on tuition revenue, have outpaced inflation and wage growth, leading families to reconsider the return on investment of a college degree. As tuition continues to rise at an average rate of 5.5% per year, families are likely to weigh costs more heavily in their education decisions