College Costs?

So, with this whole "proration" thing going around, schools are having to scramble to retain the funding needed to maintain programs and professors- one which way is to increase tuition.
On a side note, I guess none of the $130k that was spent causing hundreds of people to lose their jobs at Victoryland could have gone towards education instead. I don't personally support gambling, but people in power need to get priorities straight. If idiots want to waste their money at slot machines rather than waste their money buying entirely unnecessary high-tech toys, let them at it.
In any case, this leaves us with a question: who should be in charge of putting people through college?
Fortunately, we do not yet live in an age where a college degree is a prerequisite for winning a meaningful job... but it does help, and that age is quickly approaching. As much as it sucks to say so, I really feel that it should still be up to students and their families to earn their way through college. Now, when I say "earn", do I mean pay out-of-pocket for all expenses? No. I believe that scholarships based upon achievement and ability are a way of earning one's college education. On top of this, more people could, heaven forbid, join the military and take advantage of the Montgomery G.I. Bill or the newly-created Post 9-11 G.I. Bill. This, too, serves to earn one's college education. Frankly put, while the local government is cutting funding, the local and federal governments (as well as various organizations) still allow several options towards earning one's further education.
Of course, student loans are still an option, though it is one I feel should be a last resort rather than the first crutch one picks up. There are still programs to help students. The Pell Grant may not give much money to those from families that are more well-off, but every few dollars help.
In any case, while it isn't happy news, college is still a personal venture, and I believe it is personally up to each of us to earn this education.