Higher education in the United States continues to be essential to both individual success and the social and economic health of our country. A college degree is no longer a luxury. By 2020, 65 percent of all jobs in the United States will require postsecondary education. While college attendance has increased over the past two decades, state appropriations and federal aid have failed to keep pace with the rising costs of college, resulting in puts more costs on students. As a result, students take out loans they can't afford and graduate with thousands of dollars in debt. This does not include the hundreds of thousands of debts incurred to obtain graduate or professional degrees. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the Original EssayDebt is a real burden. Heavy student debt has negative consequences for borrowers, who must make monthly payments with their hard-earned money rather than saving and getting ahead. High debt can impact where graduates live, the type of career they pursue, when they start a family or buy a home, and their ability to save for retirement. The combination of high student debt and low income can lead to defaults, credit ruin, and wage garnishments. Such distress defeats the purpose of higher education, and the cumulative effect is corrosive. Now there are ways to make college more affordable. One way to increase the affordability of college is to ensure that students graduate and do so quickly. Today, the country spends a huge amount of money to educate students who end up dropping out before graduating. Shockingly, only 60% of American students seeking a bachelor's degree complete their degree in six years (not even four). But dropouts aren't the only problem. On average, students who graduate pay for more courses and credits than are required for their degree or certificate. It is a waste of resources, both for students and for the governments that subsidize their tuition fees. Real learning happens outside of the classroom and should be recognized. Additionally, it can also reduce the time it takes to complete a degree. Veterans could be the biggest immediate beneficiaries of this common-sense approach. Today, some doctors and mechanics have learned skills on the battlefield, but can't land a job back home as an EMT or mechanic because they don't have a degree or certificate to prove what they know . Colleges must recognize the academic value of this prior work. Work at the college level can and does begin early. More and more students are gaining an advantage in their first year of college by taking Advanced Placement (AP) in high school. Taking college classes early can help students prepare for the rigors of college and save more than a semester in tuition costs. But not all schools offer AP courses. And for some high school students, taking classes at a local college isn't an option. Today, online courses can allow students to take AP courses after school, or even during the summer. Low-income students should check for AP test fee waivers. A..