I will make more Pell Grant funding one of my highest priorities in the 107th Congress. In addition to increasing student aid, colleges must do a better job of containing tuition costs. Since the early 1980s, the cost of going to college has increased at two or three times the rate of inflation. College should be affordable to all students, but the main responsibility to control costs rests with the postsecondary institutions themselves. We all want a better life for our children, and a college education is becoming increasingly necessary for the economic well-being of our children, and of the nation as a whole.
All students deserve the opportunity to earn a college diploma.
I know that this organization has shown an unparalleled commitment to making sure that parents and students are able to afford a college education. Through your College is Possible campaign, you have helped educate the public about the financial costs of college and the funding options available. This type of program is important. We must make sure people are informed of their options, but we also must ensure that more options are available. The President is committed to making sure that every American student has the opportunity to go to college.