Community colleges for sure -- I would argue they have taken up the mantle of truly educating, especially those from lower income brackets, and are free for low

Community colleges for sure -- I would argue they have taken up the mantle of truly educating, especially those from lower income brackets, and are free for lower income students in many states. They also have good transfer pathways to a four-year university. It's by far the most affordable way to get a bachelor's degree. Some flagship state schools (example [0]) offer free tuition for lower income students providing they maintain a certain GPA. But middle class families have a hard time as they are usually above the threshold for aid, and yet tuition (and housing) is a huge financial burden. [0] https://pathway.uoregon.edu/award-overview https://pathway.uoregon.edu/award-overview