CNN Money has an article today juxtaposing the growth in tuition over the last twenty years to flat median income. And considering last weeks news that the University of Washington is looking at a tuition hike of 20 percent ($1,800 per year more) next year, this graph seems all too timely:



CNN:

Tuition: In 1988, the average tuition and fees for a four-year public university rang in at about $2,800, adjusted for inflation. By 2008, that number had climbed about 130% to roughly $6,500 a year -- and that doesn't include books or room and board.

Income: If incomes had kept up with surging college costs, the typical American would be earning $77,000 a year. But in reality, it's nowhere near that.

In 2008 -- the latest data available -- the median income was $33,000. That means if you adjust for inflation, Americans in the middle actually earned $400 less than they did in 1988.

But here's the real kicker: as a result of skyrocketing costs, fewer middle-income students are going to four-year schools, opting to attend two-year community colleges instead—and losing skills in the process, according to data compiled by the Department of Education.

In Olympia this year, legislators fought to increase funding for the State Need Grant and passed bills requiring state schools to commit to higher levels of financial aid. The effect of those increases are negligible, however, because as the Seattle Times reminded us last week, the State Need Grant will still only help out the same number of students as it did last year.