It is undeniable that the cost of college tuition continues to rise in the United States every year. Worse still, 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 institutions increased faster between 2003-04 and 2013-14 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 completed, leaving them with crushing debt. It is important to find ways to prevent students who are victims of skyrocketing tuition fees from dropping out and to encourage all new high school students to continue their studies. The reality is that rising tuition costs are no longer affordable for the average American. household. Parents cannot afford to pay their children's school fees with their income and students are very often forced to enroll part-time in order to have time to find a job to pay for their university studies. This very often leads to a decrease in the cumulative GPA of these students and, consequently, an increase in the number of dropouts in the long term. Other times, it will take these students twice as long to graduate. Students face these issues when deciding whether continuing their education is the right choice. In today's competitive climate, there is no time to lose. The United States, as a nation, is being left behind by other governments that have focused on funding education. Students from other countries are taking advantage of educational tools and services...... middle of paper ......ent interested in furthering their education and have become very popular in high schools across the country. There's no doubt that with tuition rising each year, more and more students are thinking twice about college. We are falling behind as a society due to our lack of education and motivation to achieve our goals. With rising tuition costs, students are forced to find alternatives such as attending a community college, enrolling in a two-year degree program, dual enrolling in high school, and more. Although the options are limited, they are within everyone's reach. student who wants to complete his studies and have better opportunities in life. All you need to do is maintain this thirst for wisdom, and everything in life is possible.