It’s no secret that the rising cost of tuition at state colleges and universities has made it increasingly hard for high school graduates in Washington state to take the next step in their education.

For those who do get into college, far too many are swimming in financially crippling debt by the time they graduate.

College students in Washington state currently graduate with an average of more than $20,000 in student debt. It often can take years to climb out from under that financial burden.

In response, during the waning days of the legislative session, lawmakers approved an unprecedented reduction in college tuition.

Senate Bill 5954, deemed the “College Affordability Program,” is a welcome step in lowering the obstacles for those graduates wanting to go to college and in easing their long-term financial burden.

The measure was signed this week by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Among those looking on at the signing ceremony was Republican Sen. Barbara Bailey of Oak Harbor. Bailey is chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. She was also a co-sponsor of the measure.

The College Affordability Program cuts tuition at state-run colleges and universities by up to 20 percent and caps tuition growth based on a percentage of the state’s median wage.

“This is a historic moment for families and students in our state,” said Bailey. “Washington is the only state in the country to support working families with a college tuition reduction.

“In addition, this is the first tuition reduction in state history,” Bailey said.

“The lack of investment in Washington’s higher-education system has been detrimental to our state’s economy and damaging to family budgets struggling to cover ever-increasing tuition,” Bailey said in a prepared news release.

We agree.

In effectively making the cost of higher education prohibitive for many, we reduced the pool of future employees and leaders during a time when our aging workforce is moving toward retirement.

Increased access to a higher education bodes well for a generation that needs to be mentally armed and ready to take on the challenges of our evolving job market.

Kudos to the Legislature for improving the chances of putting our children through college without completely breaking the bank.