"For months, the Wall Street credit crisis has made many families nervous that the widespread availability of student loans will dry up," writes Michael Dannenberg in USA Today. "But no matter how many banks fail, there is no danger that families will be deprived access to federal student loans. None. The real danger during bad economic times is that tuition often skyrockets. Here's why: A bad economy depresses state tax revenue. To meet state balanced-budget requirements, states cut funding for higher education. To make up those cuts, public colleges hike tuition. Competing private colleges see the increases and feel empowered to increase their tuitions markedly as well."