He analyzed four hypothetical scenerious to determine lifetime disposable income of 18-year olds:

1)      One who borrows $30,000 a year to attend a four-year college.
2)      One who borrows $15,000 a year for four years.
3)      One who graduates debt-free.
4)      A high school graduate.

Student Loan Debt

What Kotlikoff found:

Using the starting salary of $45,000, all the college graduates ended up with more disposable income than workers with just a high school diploma. (This study does not include those who went to a tech school or obtained an associate’s degree or apprenticeship somewhere.)

The college graduate who borrowed only $15,000 a year ended up with 4.4% more spending money than the one who borrowed $30,000 a year.  (Obviously, the more you borrow the more you will pay back-with interest.)

The college graduate who graduated debt-free had nearly 9% more disposable income than the one who borrowed $30,000 a year. (Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone had access to a free education or at least a rich grandparent?)

But get THIS…

If the heavy borrower earned the same median income as a high school graduate immediately after college, which is $28,000, the graduate’s spending power would be 16% lower than that of the high school graduate!

Kotlikoff’s final conclusion…

Because it’s nearly impossible for a borrower to discharge student loans through bankruptcy, the debt just keeps accumulating –even if the borrow can’t make payments. “It’s like a debtor’s prison for life,” he says.

Lawmakers in the state of Florida are on the verge of passing two bills that will double the cost of college tuition in Florida. Stanley Tate, a Miami business man is so appalled, he has invested half a million dollars of his own money to publicly protest the Florida legislation.  

On his website, Stanley Tate says;

"If you have a teenager, by the time your kid goes to college the yearly cost, just for tuition, will jump from around $3,600 today to $6,500 or more within five years. That´s a 72% increase just for tuition, not including dorm, books or living expenses."

His web site is FloridaAffordableTuition.com

Florida legislators argue that Florida tuition rates are among the lowest in the nation. They say they need more money to avoid cutting programs, courses and staff. That seems like a noble enough reason to raise tuition. But as you fork out the big bucks so your child can sit in a college classroom,  consider this:

• In 2008, the University of Florida spent 28 million dollars to complete the James W. "Bill" Heavener Football Complex. The renovation included the expansion of the strength and conditioning room, a new Gator Room and renovation to the football offices.

• According to Business Week, the president of the University of Florida got a nearly $300,000 bonus in 2008, as did the head of Florida State.  Florida’s college students are expected to foot the bill after the jet setting Gov. Charlie Crist authorizes a double-digit tuition increases at all of the state’s public institutions.

• Florida's Urban Meyer's salary jumped from $2 million to $3.25 million per year after his 2006 national title. He could become the country's highest-paid coach after a second title.

• UCF's Football Coach George O'Leary gets $50,000 (in addition to his salary) every year there are no violations of the student code of conduct; no arrests, indictments or convictions of crimes; and no "neglect or willfull conduct" in violation of NCAA rules.

More and more money-strapped students are turning to "public" colleges rather than high ticket private colleges so they can get an education. But the state schools are catching on. The truth is; colleges, private and public have learned that they can charge as much as they want. In fact, history shows that college enrollment actually spikes in a bad economy. As people get laid off -they go back to school hoping to "invest" in their future. Are colleges taking advantage of this? 

More about Stanley Tate's one-man battle:

Miami businessman Stanley Tate fights lonely fight against tuition increases
By Amy Hollyfield, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In Print: Tuesday, March 31, 2009