Jasiah Burrows , the eldest of eleven siblings, excelled in high school and was thrilled when he earned a full Bright Futures scholarship. He thought he had the college costs covered.

But soon reality set in: although Bright Futures would pay for 100% of his tuition at the University of South Florida, he was shocked to discover that it was just a fraction of the total cost — money that his family did not have.

As Jasiah learned, the other costs of college — food, housing, and other necessities — comprise the lion’s share of expenses. Fortunately, Jasiah — now a USF student — eventually got the aid he needed, but only after stressing whether college was in reach.

Jasiah is not alone in worrying about the cost of college. Fear of student debt and the ability to pay are the most significa

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