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The growing number of college ranking systems suggests that students and parents demand better information about colleges. As the cost of higher education becomes too much for many students, policymakers have to deal with how to control those costs. The U.S. Department of Education says that in 2012-2013, the average cost of an education at a four-year private college was $35,074 per year. Four-year public colleges cost $17,474 on average. In 1982 to 1983, the average cost of an education at a four-year private college was $16,797. Four-year public colleges cost $7,534 on average. These numbers are adjusted for inflation. Developing a new, effective college ranking system was one of the Obama administration's important strategies for improving higher education. In 2013, the Department of Education announced a new plan for ranking colleges. It looks at the annual cost after financial aid, the school’s graduation rate and the annual salary for graduates.
* ranking system = 등급법/ demand = 요구하다; 강력히 묻다, 따지다/ higher education = 고등 교육, 대학 교육/ policymaker = 정책 입안자[담당자]/ deal with ~ = (문제, 과제 등을) 처리하다/ private college = 사립 대학/ public college = 공립 대학/ on average = 평균하여, 대체로/ be adjusted for ~ = ~을 감안한[~이 반영된]/ financial aid = 학자금 지원[융자]/ graduation rate = 졸업률
President Obama announced the plan:"Our first priority is aimed at providing better value for students -- making sure that families and taxpayers are getting what we pay for. Today, I’m directing Arne Duncan, our Secretary of Education, to lead an effort to develop a new rating system for America’s colleges before the 2015 college year. I think we should rate colleges based on opportunity. Are they helping students from all kinds of backgrounds succeed, and on outcomes, on their value to students and parents." The Obama administration's goal is to give students information to help them choose the school that is right for them – and avoid unnecessary loans, too.
* (the) first priority = 최우선 사항, 우선 순위 1번/ aim at ~ = ~을 목표로 한, 겨냥한/ direct = 지시[명령]하다/ avoid = 피하다, 방지하다, 모면하다
