There is no escaping the fact that the cost of college tuition continues to increase in the United States every year. To make matters worse, having a college degree is no longer an option, but a requirement in today's society. According to data collected by the College Board, total costs at public four-year colleges increased more rapidly between 2003-2004 and 2013-2014 than in the previous two decades (Collegeboard.com). Students are pressured to pursue higher education, but yet the rising costs of books and tuition make us think twice. Sometimes, some of these students have to leave with their studies partially finished, leaving them with crushing debts. It is important to find ways to prevent these students, victims of skyrocketing fees, from abandoning their studies and to encourage all students in their final year of high school to continue their studies. The reality is that raising college tuition is no longer affordable for the average American. domestic. Parents cannot afford to pay their children's school fees from their income, and students are very often forced to enroll part-time in order to have time to find a job to pay for college. This very often causes a decrease in the GPA of these students and consequently, in the long run, increases the number of dropouts. Other times, these students will take double the time to complete their degrees. Students face these issues when deciding whether continuing their education is the right choice. In today's competitive climate, there is no time to waste. The United States as a nation is being left behind by other governments who have focused on funding education. Students in other nations are taking advantage of the educational tools and services...... middle of paper ...... interested in continuing their education and have become very popular in high schools across the nation. There is no doubt that with the annual increase in tuition fees, more and more students are thinking about college twice. We are falling behind as a society due to our lack of education and motivation to achieve our goals. As tuition costs rise, students are forced to find alternatives such as attending community college, enrolling in a two-year degree program, enrolling in high school, etc. Although the options are limited, they are within reach of any student who wants to complete their education and have better opportunities in life. Just keep alive the thirst for wisdom and everything in life is possible. Works Cited http://www.centerforcollegeaffordability.org/uploads/25Ways_to_Reduce_the_Cost_of_College.pdf