<p>17 years ago, I looked at the college costs and projections and said that there was no way they would go that far. It was insanity. And I was right; they’ve gone up even more and even with this economic recession we’ve been suffering, with high unemployment, and investments gone under, home values low and credit tight. </p>
<p>So, clearly my predicitions were way off. There is still stiff competition, worse even, for spots at some of the most expensive schools and not a hesitation about paying for them by many families. </p>
<p>My father was a civil service employee and I went to a private college on financial aid. Yes, I can look up exactly what he would make today, and exactly what that college charges this upcoming year. What’s scarier is that awards like the NMS, are still at the same dollar amounts as 40 years ago. Part time earnings have cone up about 3 fold, but what made a nice dent in the tuition just doesn’t do it any more if students try to earn and save money for college. I had enough stashed to pay my first year from babysitting and working summers at menial min wage jobs. How many kids can do that these days going away to a private college?</p>