The costs of higher education have been rising at a rapid rate, faster than inflation for the economy as a whole, in over the last fifty years. It all started in the 1960s, when the federal government passed the Higher Education Act to increase the number of people who could afford to attend college. Regardless of the United States government's efforts to make college more affordable, federal aid programs have failed to meet expectations due to the ever-rising cost of college. To lower the cost of college, the government must reduce student financial expenses to benefit only the lowest-income families and create tax incentives for families to start saving on their own. A university education has become the expectation of most young people around the world. the United States. Children need a college education to succeed in the global economy. Unfortunately, for the majority of Americans, the price of an education has become the equivalent of a small house. The high tuition costs of attending college have made it a daunting financial barrier for middle-class families. In the 1986-1987 school year, the average tuition at a private university was $20,566 (adjusted to 2011 dollars), while in 2011 the average cost was $28,500, a increase of 38.6%. Similarly, at public universities, tuition costs have increased: in the 1986-1987 school year, the average tuition at a public university was $8,454 (adjusted to 2011 dollars), while In 2011, the average cost was actually $20,770, an increase of 145.7%. Most families who are able to save for college try to do so, so their children don't end up with heavy debt due to loans. Still, families can only save about $10,000 on average, which is not enough to pay for a full education...... middle of paper ......ct. 2011. Internet. December 3, 2011. .United States. Executive Office of the President. Make college more affordable. White House. Np, and Web. December 2, 2011. .Wadsworth, Gordon. The College Trap: Online Financial Guide for Students and Parents. Np: Financial Aid Information Services, 2007. Google Books. Internet. December 3, 2011. United States. Joint Economic Committee. College affordability: tuition tax credits and savings incentives. 1997. Internet. .