I'm working on a novel where the main character needs to drop out of school because of a family tragedy and she needs to figure out a way back. It's based on my own experience fighting through the bureaucratic federal and state financial aid set up here in the US. Considering the cost of tuition now relative to the cost of living - there's no way in Hell I would have been able to afford to attend SU in 2021. I attended Syracuse University from 1991 to 1994 then took a two-year hiatus and finished my last year from 1996 to 1997. It was a tough year and many times I went hungry or thought I'd end up homeless. By the time I finished, tuition room and board were up to at least $35,000. I had to go the alternate route and finish through University College, which was designed for Part-Time students, but I got away with 12 credits per semester - keeping me full-time and able to qualify for grants. That way, I could skirt some of the atrocious fees. By then I was 23 and had gained a level of maturity, knowledge, and chutzpah that I hadn't had a couple of years prior. College costs have risen exorbitantly. A middle-class family can no longer afford college. A poor kid relying on grants and loans, like I was, wouldn't be able to afford anything other than city college. Some would say, so be it. No one is entitled to go to college. When only the rich get access to certain groups, networks, and education, you create a polarized society where access to a quality education and the associated networks is limited to the fortunate (many universities have extensive alumni networks which open doors to exclusive jobs and internships). This creates an even bigger divide. I owe a lot of my success to having a BA and an MS from Syracuse University. Job recruiters look at your "pedigree". We need to keep the opportunities available for kids like me. Unfortunately, the way costs have been rising, those opportunities are getting further and further away.