Chairman Miller: New Report Shows Congress Must Continue Efforts to Make College More Affordable 

Monday, October 22, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- Tuition and fees at four-year public colleges increased 31 percent – after inflation – over the last five years, according to a new report released today by the College Board. The report also shows that tuition at public four year colleges grew at an even higher rate in the 2007-2008 school year than it did in the previous year. U.S. Rep. George Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and the author of a new law that will boost student financial aid by more than $20 billion, said today that the College Board data underscores the need for Congress to continue its efforts to make college more affordable and accessible.

“Over the past several years, college costs have risen at a staggering pace, driving far too many students and parents into debt. This report shows that college tuition is still on the rise, increasing at an even higher rate this year than the year before. There is no question that this college cost crisis stands to hurt not just students and families, but also our nation’s competitive edge in a global economy.

 “With the recent enactment of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the Democratic Congress has provided urgently needed financial help to students and families trying to pay for college. But as this report reminds us, there is still a great amount of work to be done. We will continue to build on these efforts by strengthening and reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. One of our primary goals for the reauthorization will be to develop strategies to help rein in increases in college tuition. Making college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students is a top priority for this Congress.”

As part of its work to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness has held several hearings examining how students access and pay for a college education. For more information on those hearings, click here.

For more information on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, click here.

 ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853