There is a growing public perception that higher education is an absolute necessity for success in today's world, but higher education is slipping out of the reach of a growing number of people, according to a report by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, and Public Agenda.

The report, Squeeze Play: How Parents and the Public Look at Higher Education Today, notes that "these concerns remain in the background, and tend not to be seen as a top priority. A number of factors have prevented the public from going into a panic about higher education availability, but people are increasingly nervous."

According to the report:

• The number of Americans who believe that higher education is essential for a decent job and place in American society has jumped from 31% in 2000 to 50% in 2007.

• The majority of Americans (59%) believe college prices are rising as fast or faster than prices for health care.

• Seventy-eight percent of Americans believe that students have to borrow too much money to pay for college.

• Although 86% say that someone willing to make enough sacrifices can go to college, most (62%) also believe that many qualified individuals don't have access to higher education.

• Concern about access is much higher among minority parents. While 62% of them believe that a college degree is necessary, 74% think that many qualified and motivated students don't have the opportunity for a college education.

• Higher education still gets good marks from the public: 51% give it a grade of good or excellent, compared to 37% for secondary schools.

• Regardless of this generally positive view of higher education, more than half of people surveyed (52%) think colleges are like a business, focusing more on the bottom line than on education, and almost half (48%) say they want to overhaul public colleges.

The center advises higher education leaders to "get out in front of this issue before the situation comes to a head."

Posted 09/05/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.