Little wonder , then , that three of four individuals from families in the top quartile of the economic distribution have received undergraduate degrees by age 24 , but only one of five in the third tier and one of 10 in the fourth -- and the median debt at graduation is rising rapidly . Robert Altschuler : 70 years ago , Congress signed GI Bill ; more than 2 million went to college on it . After later wars , America 's promise of higher education to vets diminshed , he says . He says GI Bill paid off : they got better jobs , were more civicly engaged , paid more taxes . Writer : Congress must share this educational system with vets and all Americans .
Robert Altschuler : 70 years ago , Congress signed GI Bill ; more than 2 million went to college on it . After later wars , America 's promise of higher education to vets diminshed , he says . He says GI Bill paid off : they got better jobs , were more civicly engaged , paid more taxes . Writer : Congress must share this educational system with vets and all Americans .