Intro, First Draft: 

Tuition has increased at a rate higher than inflation for 30 years, and the end result is higher student debt and an entire generation at a loss as to how they will pay off their loans. The average cost of tuition across the United States has been rising faster than inflation for the last three decades (Campos). Over the years, numerous researchers have suggested causes and solutions to stop rising tuition. These researchers want Americans to believe tuition is growing, because of increasing administration and lowering state funds each year. Living in America, an education is a given privilege. However, in America, minorities are not given a fair education, because they can’t afford the rising costs. Minorities have higher debt rates, and lower degree counts in higher education. More should be done to ensure all Americans get an equal education.

Intro (Revised Draft after class feedback): 

Tuition has increased at a rate higher than inflation for 30 years, and the end result is higher student debt and an entire generation at a loss as to how they will pay off their loans (Campos). According to a report by the Delta Cost Project, tuition for a public four-year institution in 1970 was $358 per semester. If tuition had grown in pace with inflation, the average tuition at public colleges would have been $2,052 in 2010. Instead, the average per semester tuition at public colleges and universities was $6,695 in 2010 (Clark). For the 2012–13 academic year, annual current dollar prices for tuition, room, and board were estimated to be $15,022 at public institutions, and $39,173 at private nonprofit institutions. Between 2002–03 and 2012–13, prices for tuition, room, and board at public institutions rose 39 percent, and prices at private nonprofit institutions rose 27 percent, after adjustment for inflation. Over the years, numerous researchers have suggested causes and solutions to stop rising tuition. These researchers want Americans to believe tuition is growing, because of increasing administration and lowering state funds each year. Living in America, a college education should be a given privilege. However, in America, minorities are not given a fair education, because they can’t afford the rising costs. Minorities have higher debt rates, and lower degree counts in higher education. More should be done to ensure all Americans get an equal education.

Many ethnicities are affected by rising tuition. Not surprisingly, minorities are most effected. Following rising tuition came an unbearable amount of student debt, an increase in student loan takeout, and an increasing list of reasons for increasing spikes. In addition, minorities have multiple struggles. Minorities are faced with managing increasing tuition rates, and as a result, minorities have a lower number of higher education degrees, because they cannot afford the rising cost.