This document discusses the various methods that might be used in funding higher education, with special emphasis on access to colleges and universities as related to educational finance. There are two major theories regarding the funding of higher education. The first is the individual benefits theory. Those who represent this theory claim that the individual student is the primary beneficiary of the education and therefore that the student should absorb most of the costs of getting an education. Those who support the second theory, the societal benefits theory, claim that society is the main beneficiary of higher education and that society should, therefore, be responsible for the financial burdens. The author agrees with the latter theory and feels that in order for access to higher education to be truly equal to all persons, society and not the individual must bear the major portion of education costs. (HS)