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I remember when college actually was affordable. Not. Any. More.

Sending a kid to college used to be something you hoped your kid was even able to do. Then it became something that was expected. Now it is becoming something that is needed. With that need, though, comes a hefty price tag. The average tuition cost at four-year public universities in the U.S. has climbed 15 percent between 2008 and 2010.

While national rates are up 15 percent, in some states tuition has jumped more than 40 percent in the two year span, Texas schools have seen a below average increase in their tuition costs.

Souce: U.S. Department of Education

* = Private University

The reason for such an increase in a lot of the public schools are state budget cuts to higher education. The increase in tuition causes for higher loan amounts owed once students graduate the school. In some cases students are more than $20,000 in debt before they even get their first job out of college.

The question that every parent and student is starting to answer is, “Is it worth it?”. Does college provide enough for what is being put into it?