As many of us were once college students, it's easy to understand the worry and anger brought on by whispers of tuition increases (higher tuition, less pizza!).

In Kansas this week, several cost-conscious co-eds have been doing their due-diligences by questioning the affect a Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) will have on higher ed tuition costs.

We don’t blame them; with college tuition prices skyrocketing over the years, it’s only natural that students question newfangled legislation.

Lucky for them Americans for Prosperity just kicked-off the American Dream Express bus tour, which is geared towards dispelling common myths about TABOR and educating the taxpayers all over Kansas (full schedule here).

In case you can’t make one of the stops, here’s a little food for thought regarding higher ed costs in Colorado (where they’ve had a TABOR since 1992) and Kansas (where they’ve needed a TABOR since 1992):

USA TODAY's annual survey of tuition costs at 67 public flagship universities:

University Colorado – Boulder ranks 18^th most expensive for in-state tuition in the 2004-05 school year. The percent increase in tuition from the previous school year was only 8%.
Kansas State University – Manhattan ranks 25^th, with a 15% percent increase in tuition from the previous school year (ouch!)
University of Kansas – Lawrence ranks 26^th, also with a 15% percent increase in tuition from the previous year.

Clearly TABOR does not drive up higher ed costs. Students need not worry about TABOR robbing them of their chance at an affordable education. If anything, they should be cheering in its favor since it would give them more of their money back to spend on beer textbooks.