A new analysis challenges a common explanation for why college costs feel unaffordable: it argues that the “43% of family income” gap is driven less by tuition sticker prices and more by the total cost structure that includes housing, food, and other expenses. The piece also documents how tuition growth has not risen as steeply as popular narratives suggest over long historical periods. The article highlights that affordability pressures have still translated into financial harm: a growing share of undergraduates rely on student loans, with cumulative debt climbing substantially and debt burdens constraining postsecondary outcomes. For higher education professionals and policymakers, the reporting reframes affordability interventions. It suggests that financial aid and cost containment strategies must address the full cost of attendance—not tuition alone—to shift outcomes for borrowers and families.