Nowadays, college and debt go hand in hand. Prospective students have to consider cost of attendance as much as or even more than credentials when picking a college or university. The lucky few who come out debt-free are far outnumbered by students who will be paying off school loans for more years than it took to accrue them.

Our newly elected politicians cannot lose sight of the financial burden higher education puts on students and their families. Funding for state schools’ Illinois Student Assistance Commission programs, including the Monetary Award Program grant, has been cut nearly in half between 2008 and 2010. This past July, Gov. Pat Quinn cut $96 million from the state’s budget for higher education. More than 100,000 eligible students have been denied MAP grants since the year’s funding ran out.

Republican senator-elect Mark Kirk is a longtime supporter of legislation to increase funding and support for students seeking higher education, but his voting record has been largely against plans for additional funding for minority students and colleges.

Budgets are drying up from the federal and state level down to the finances of most American families. Since the economic downturn, education is costing more and families can afford less. More students are depending on grants to finance their education—without these resources, some students aren’t able to attend college.

Quinn needs to work to reverse the devastating budget cuts he made to higher education and education as a whole, which account for more than one-fifth of total cuts. Instead of investing money to try to get money for Illinois schools, like in the unsuccessful Race to the Top challenge for a federal grant, put that money directly toward the state’s students. A record number are depending on it.

Kirk should continue his efforts in Congress to create and expand grant programs and student loan reform. He supported the Cost of College Reduction Act of 2007, the single largest piece of legislation increasing college aid since the G.I. Bill of 1944.

Without efforts to retain and increase federal and state aid, students are forced to turn to private loan companies with high interest rates to pay for school. Four years down the road students will face massive debt. Politicians must also examine what’s to come in 40 years if people are not able to pay off their ever-increasing school loans.