A college education is fast becoming a less available choice, even for students coming from upper middle class families. 

The fees at California Community Colleges were raised from $20 per unit to $26 this semester, a 30 percent increase. 

California State Universities also raised fees by 10 percent in May and then another 10 percent in July. This means CSU students are now paying an average of $4,827 per year. 

University of California fees went up by 9.3 percent as of summer 2009, which leaves UC students paying approximately $8,720 per year.

The increasing cost of education is crushing the dreams of many students who hope to get higher education.  

My sister, Gabriela Almaraz, is a former DVC student who recently graduated with a bachelor degree in psychology at the San Francisco State University. She will have to wait a full year to continue her studies and plans on getting a 40-hour-a-week job to help save up money to pay for her master’s degree.

It is stressful to know that the situation is not getting better but worse. 

One wonders how the state Legislature could place such low priority on higher education that it targeted community colleges, state universities and the UC system for such deep cuts. 

Did it ever consider the impact over all?

Possibly, but the jaw-dropping fee increases make it seem unlikely. 

We need educated fresh minds to dig us out of the recession we are in, not more uneducated individuals to cause chaos. 

Sad to say, our state legislators, the UC Regents, and CSU trustees will not personally pay the price for their short-sightedness.

Instead, those who could not afford an education will be the ones stuck in minimum-wage jobs, living paycheck to paycheck and striving to get our own kids through college. 

Still, if we continue to work towards our dreams, maybe our generation will be able to make a change in what we know is vital, affordable education for all.