In the last 15 years, states have slashed funding for colleges, spending $6.6 billion less on higher education in 2018 than they did in 2008. Colleges opted to shift more of the cost burden onto students by increasing tuition.

The scoring system by SmartAsset shows how well institutions are competing state by state and going up against the best in the nation.

Department of Education's plan includes more help for those in public service and those who have disabilities.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents with student loans said the government should focus first on fixing the system,