"Paying for a college education - with a price tag now north of $50,000 a year at some top-priced private schools - has never been easy," MSNBC reports. "But this year, on top of the complexities of multiple public and private lending programs and hit to college savings accounts from the turmoil in the financial markets, parents and students have another obstacle to overcome. With two weeks left before school starts, it’s not yet clear how many students and families will come up short. But financial aid officers are busy with last-minute appeals for help from families whose personal finances may have taken a turn for the worse."