A report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education had some nice things to say about Maine.

The state receives good grades on preparing students for college, on graduation rates and on the benefits that higher education brings to the community.

There’s bad news, though, according to the report. Maine gets a big, fat F for affordability. The cost of a college education is going up, and it’s a big problem for many families. But Maine doesn’t deserve an F.

The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education has a worthy goal, which is to promote policies that make a college education better and more affordable. They believe that public funding for colleges and universities has not kept pace with rising costs, and students are forced to fund more of their education from their own pockets. In 2003, Maine allocated just 4 percent of its budget to higher education.

Even so, Maine’s community colleges and university system are not out of reach for most students. The state’s community colleges have not increased tuition in six years. While the $68 a credit hour still ranks pretty high nationally, it’s about in the middle for New England community colleges. A full-time student who qualifies for federal student loans and financial aid could complete a year of college for about $2,000 if living at home.

The study identifies 36 states as failing on affordability. We’re not confident that’s a fair assessment.

Maine should commit to lowering tuition costs for its students and to investing in higher education. There’s plenty of work to be done, but the state’s not starting at zero.