Elementary school, middle school, high school, university: this is how we are told our career in education should unfold. After college, you go on and get a job based on the degree you earned. Sounds simple, right? According to Erik Lowe, in his Seattle Times article "Keep Washington's College Tuition Affordable", he reports that people of his generation are the first to be less educated than their parents in the United States. He explains that this is due to the high cost of tuition followed by huge student debt. Lowe believes that there must be a significant change in the country's higher education systems (in reference to tuition fees), otherwise the decline in college attendance will continue. Tuition fees need to be reduced because right now many people cannot go to college due to the cost and if they do, they find themselves in debt and facing the daunting task of finding a job. For families with teenagers applying to college, one main question arises: How much is it going to cost us? According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013-2014 school year was $30,094 at private colleges, $8,893 for in-state residents at public colleges and $22,203 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. Although these numbers are averages, actual college costs vary widely. The sad truth about this is that many students and their families don't even know where all their money is going. Normally, the money is used to pay school fees; costs; accommodation and meals; books and school supplies; and personal and transportation expenses. As the average cost of college shows, a school typically has lower tuition for in-state residents and much higher tuition for middle-of-paper students......e American Prospect . Opposing viewpoints in context. Internet. March 12, 2014. “EDITORIAL: Tuition fees are too high. »Philadelphia Investigator. January 13, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. March 12, 2014. Ellison, Chris. “Lower tuition costs do not guarantee reduced student debt. » The Oswegonian. November 10, 2011. The web. March 12, 2014. Lowe, Erik. “Keep Washington tuition affordable. » The Seattle Times. January 23, 2009. The web. March 6, 2014. Meyer, Ron. "It's the price of tuition that hurts; interest rates aren't the only problem when it comes to college costs." Washington Times, August 12, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. March 12, 2014. Vance, J.D. “The College Trap: Our Higher Education System Harms the Poor.” » Revue nationale January 27, 2014. Opposing points of view in context. Internet. March 12, 2014. College Board, The. “How much does a college education cost?” »College data. Internet. March 12. 2014.