A hearing was held addressing the issue of the rising cost of a college education. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher was among those who testified. Lori Chung has more.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- "Mostly getting a job and afterwards just working on help paying the loan," one student said.

Typical concerns that most students are aware of.

"Any person going to school, the first thing you have to think about is finances," said another student.

And that the State Assembly Committee on Higher Education is looking to alleviate. They heard from college leaders from throughout the state.

"Tuition is going up, going up at a predictable rate, but their incomes are not going up at that same kind of predictable rate,” said Assembly member Inez Barron.

College board figures show the national average tuition for a public school at a little over $12,000, just under $24,000 at a private school. Many students are turning to loans to meet those costs.

"Well, we're very concerned," SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said.

But Zimpher says their rational tuition program is working along with new measures being developed to better prepare students.

"We're also creating a SUNY smart track that shows students exactly what the cost of college is and I'm talking about how much it costs to drive to a campus," Zimpher said.

But other leaders hope to encourage the Assembly to set aside the funding and resources to help students and the schools they choose to attend manage.

"We can't operate, run our colleges at a loss, so somehow, we have to create a partnership between the state, between the families, between the colleges and universities,” said Susan Scrimshaw, The Sage Colleges President.