Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed a rather modest 44 percent increase in community college fees. Here's how it's modest: It would still leave California students paying the lowest community college tuition in the country.

The state's fee-hike would be from $18 to $26 per credit. At that, California community college costs actually would be about half what the average state charges.

That's not to say the higher fees wouldn't be a strain for some people; thousands demonstrated in Sacramento Monday to let that be known. But the increase is fair, and it's inevitable.

California is about to issue $15 billion in voter-approved bonds to pay past bills, and faces another multibillion-dollar shortfall this year.

Higher user fees for state services will be part of the solution until the state reverses its fiscal meltdown.

The challenge for students now is to take advantage of money available through loans, grants, scholarships and jobs to help cushion the higher costs.