forces at work when it comes to tuition. However, as states have reduced their support for public higher education (in inflation-adjusted $/per student), the institutions have responded by increasing tuition. For the really rich, it's no big deal. For the merely rich, it's discomforting, but bearable. For those eligible for need-based-aid (including merit-based aid that has a need component), it's also not a problem. For students who are good enough academically to get into college but not great enough to qualify for merit-based aid and whose parents fall into the "middle class", it's a real problem.