College is getting harder to afford every year. Debt mounts and jobs, especially in certain industries, don't necessarily provide the financial return they once did. It should come as no surprise to administrators that students and families are feeling the pinch. Rather than ignore the problem, higher education leaders, policymakers, and others have offered potential solutions (e.g., free college, or a "pay-it-forward" program, grants, loans) designed to take the sting out of paying for college. In this article, Eric Butterman and Cory Murrary point out the opportunities and drawbacks of some of these proposals.