Tuition and fees continue to rise, with no relief in sight. As this "MSN Money" article points out, the cost of attending a public college rose 14 percent last year; at privates, it climbed six percent.

Why the constant increases? Most pundits blame escalating institutional expenses for personnel and health insurance, the expectation among students and parents for first-class facilities, and shrinking support from state and federal sources.

But as this report suggests, most people don't pay the outrageous costs we hear associated with elite universities. About three-quarters of college students attend public institutions, where the average tuition for a year is less than $5,000. Only 8 percent of students attend colleges with price tags above $24,000 per year. And don't forget that 43 percent of all students attend community colleges, where a year will typically cost you less than $2,000.

So I have little sympathy for students and families grousing over a $500 increase in tuition at a good state university. It's a car payment. They evidently don't realize the bargain they're getting.

The bottom line is that college is an investment in yourself. Studies show college graduates earn considerably more than people with only a high school diploma, perhaps as much as a million dollars over a career. Oh, and you might actually learn something along the way.