Many people are seeking higher education to eventually get a better paying job. However, as gas prices and tuition costs rise, many students are finding it more difficult to even afford a college education.

Officials with the Hazard Community and Technical College say enrollment is down about 10 percent from this time last year and they say some people just can't afford the education they need to get ahead.

As students register for the fall semester, some say not going to college is not an option.

"Without an education, you can't get any kind of good paying job around here," said Jessica Baker.

Those who are heading to school this fall say high tuition and never-ending gas prices are making it difficult to keep their heads above water.

"Tuition goes up every semester and I have just moved back from another state, so I'm being charged out of state tuition. Were it not for programs to help me, I couldn't go," said Lisa Davidson.

"I live on the Knott County - Perry County line and it's like a 20, 25 minute drive for me, and gas is killing me," Baker said.

As gas prices increase, HCTC officials say students are spending about 33% more on gas this year to get to class.

"We just recently took a six percent cut in higher education and that has lead us to have increased tuition. Of course affordability is a real issue for us right now," said Doug Fraley with HCTC.

Fraley says he does not foresee any tuition relief from the government in the next few years, but he says education is too important to keep cutting it.

"When that happens, tuition goes up and that becomes an unfair tax on the people that need education," Fraley said.

Fraley says to help students through rough times in the economy, they are offering more distance learning classes. He also says a number of courses offer longer classes that meet fewer times each week.

Not every college in Eastern Kentucky is facing this problem, though. We spoke with Union College officials who say they will see their largest freshman class ever, but they also say more than half their students live on campus.