With average tuition rates nearly doubling over the last decade, the U.S. Department of Education is helping more families afford college.

• Half of all undergraduates received some federal financial aid in 2003-04, up from 40 percent in 2000-01.
• Funding for Pell Grants has risen nearly 50 percent over the past five years.
• President Bush has proposed an additional $19 billion for Pell Grants over the next 10 years.
• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is available on the Department's web site.

The condition of high schools affects the state of higher education, for good or bad.

• "High schools are failing to prepare too many of our students for work and higher education" — National Governors Association.
• High school test scores have barely moved since the 1970s.
• American students rank only 27th in the world in mathematics problem-solving (PISA).
• One-third of all undergraduates must take remedial coursework during their college career.
• Only one in four Hispanic students and one in five African American students in four-year colleges will graduate within that time.

The best thing we can do for colleges and universities is to send them freshmen students ready to learn.

• President Bush's $1.5 billion High School Initiative would enable high schools to annually measure student knowledge of core subjects, while providing intensive instruction to struggling, at-risk students.
• The President has proposed Enhanced Pell Grants and dual enrollment credit transfers for high school students taking rigorous, college-level coursework.
• The President has offered to expand the State Scholars, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs to more high schools, especially those serving low-income students.