Unless you are in the small minority of students who are not faced with student loans, rising tuition rates are cause for alarm, especially at a time when the general state of the economy is not shining so bright. According to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) two-thirds (65.7%) of 4-year undergraduate students graduate with debt with the average student loan debt for seniors being $19,237. Graduate and professional students generate even more debt, ranging from $27,000 to $114,000. When I was at U of K, tuition rose 12% in one year (as I was browsing the news last week I saw that it would be going up another 9% for 2008-2009). At the same time, the student loan scandals that rocked the higher ed community last year, reveals just how eager some banks, lenders and even some college financial offices are to sign students up for more loans. What is being done to ensure access and affordability for higher education? How does sustainability intersect in this area? Over the course of the last year, there have been some significant steps taken by colleges and universities in addressing the issue of rising tuition and the affordability of education. Some private institutions have eliminated student loans all together (replacing them with grants) while others have begun reevaluating their financial aid programs all together (see examples from Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, Bowdoin, and Colby College). Tufts University, is now providing loan-repayment aid for students who choose to work in public service careers. I'm not sure what the best solutions are to this issue but I would be eager to hear what some of our readers think or feel about this issue. Meanwhile, the NY Times is having financial aid directors from 5 institutions (Harvard, Yale, Buffalo State, UC Los Angeles and St. Johns University) answering readers questions through April 23rd regarding all things related to college and financial aid. Follow the conversations and Q and A here- College and Money: Ask the Expert.