Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

States Get Bad Grades for College Affordability

By Alabama Public Radio

Washington, DC – When it comes to the affordability of college, many states get an F. Alabama's grade is a D-minus. The affordability grade is based on how big a chunk it takes out of an average family's income. For example, in Alabama, tuition at a two-year college costs 24-percent of the average paycheck. In the 1990s, it was 23 percent. The report card from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education shows that in the category of affordability, 43 states got an F. That's up from 36 states just two years ago. The best grade any state gets is a C, and only two states received that grade -- Utah and California.

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.