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One of the starkest contrasts is the skyrocketing cost of education. Since 1980, college tuition has surged by an astonishing 1,200%. To encapsulate this shift, while obtaining a four-year degree would cost about $122,000 adjusted for inflation in 1980, recent figures indicate students are now accruing debt averaging between $20,000 to $25,000 upon graduation. This student debt burden significantly impacts the ability to save, invest in retirement, or purchase a home.