AUSTIN – At a joint press conference today at the Texas Capitol, a coalition of public university students and free market organizations put out a united call for more transparency, accountability, accessibility and affordability at Texas universities to curb the out-of-control increase in college tuition.

The coalition, made up of Americans for Prosperity Foundation, FreedomWorks, America’s Next Impact, the University of Texas College Republicans, the UT Young Conservatives, and students from UT, Texas A&M, Texas State University spoke about the common problem today’s university students face with unbearable student loan debt – set to reach the $1 trillion mark nationally this year, and far outpacing credit card debt – and what needs to be done to address the problem.

“College debt is taking over our generation not just in Texas, but across the nation,” said Chris Covo, director of America’s Next Impact and recent graduate of Texas State University.

Over the past decade, the average tuition at the state’s largest university grew 120 percent. Statewide, tuition is up 83 percent since 2003.

“University administration cannot continue to put their head in the sand when it comes to the cost of higher education,” said AFPF State Director Peggy Venable.

“I'm worried how it's going to work out for me with a bad job market and more than $50K in student loan debt,” said Nathan McDaniel, a junior at Texas State University.

"I don't believe the quality of education we are getting is warranting the increase in cost," said Texas A&M student Alicia Stewart, who also discussed how difficult it is to graduate in four years when lower level classes are designed to weed people out, or are only offered in one semester but are a prerequisite for higher level courses.

“I’m having to pay for fees, a meal plan, a parking permit, all of that for one three-hour class that is only offered one time in the fall. But it’s a prerequisite for another class,” Stewart said. “So, I have to pay for an entire semester for just one class.”

Lauren Pierce, a senior at UT, echoed her statement: "It's easy to get off schedule to graduate when classes are only offered in the fall or the spring.”

The coalition is encouraging students, college graduates and those paying into the higher education system to weigh in on the reform debate by calling for high-quality education to be the No. 1 priority for universities. The group also calls for transparency within the university budget system, so those paying into the system – whether through tuition or tax dollars – know just what the universities consider a priority.

"As Texans, taxpayers, and students, we should know how our money is being spent by Universities," said Jenna White, chairman of the UT Young Conservatives of Texas.

Americans for Prosperity Foundation launched the Rock the Ivory Tower petition to call for higher education to be more accessible and affordable so more people can graduate without being burdened by overwhelming student loan debt. The petition is available by going to www.RockTheIvoryTower.com.

"For too long the higher education system has put students at the last priority, and we are seeing the effects," said Amanda Shell, a recent graduate of Texas State University who now works for Freedomworks in Washington, D.C. “Only 28.6% of students attending Texas and College Universities graduate on-time for a four year degree.”

“With students graduating with more student loan debt than ever, and a tuition trajectory that will eventually price out the middle class from higher education, a dialogue needs to happen within public university administrators to address these problems,” Covo said. “We need affordability, accessibility and transparency – people across ideological lines agree on that. We’re encouraging them to get involved with America's Next Impact and help us Rock the Ivory tower!”