The biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, which evaluates how well higher education is serving the public, handed out Fs for affordability to 49 states, up from 43 two years ago. Only California received a passing grade in the category, a C, thanks to its relatively inexpensive community colleges.

grade is based on how much of the average family's income it costs to go to college.

Only two states _ New York and Tennessee _ have made even minimal improvements since 2000

only two states _ Arizona and Iowa _ receiving an A for participation in higher education

Forty-four percent of young Iowans are in college, while just 18 percent of their counterparts in Alaska _ one of three states to get an F in the category _ are enrolled.

United States is

standing still while other countries pass it

enrollment

costs families in the top fifth of income just 9 percent of their earnings

families from the bottom fifth pay 55 percent

after accounting for financial aid