Explain the root causes of growing tuition costs at state colleges. Then explain how this cost increase is an equity concern as well as an economic concern for individuals and employers.

What will be an ideal response?

Root causes include declining state support for colleges and inability for colleges to reduce spending significantly. Equity concern: Access to college is declining for those with low and middle incomes. Economic concern for the individual: Fewer aids and loans and greater debt upon graduation; reduced earning potential without a college degree. For the community, the positive externalities of higher education are lost; inability to grow the economy of higher paying jobs with insufficient college-educated workforce.