Most US citizens don't believe that going to college is necessary

Believe it or not, under 25% of Americans go to college.

The cost of tuition at many US colleges is so high, that many Americans (more than half) now believe it isn't necessary to go to college.

Actually, in the USA there are "state" universities and "private" universities.  I still think the state universities are affordable and a student can receive an excellent education at such a school.  I went to a state university (The University of Wisconsin at Madison) for my BA and then to a private school (Teachers College at Columbia University) for my MA.

The article:

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/education-planning/why-half-americans-dont-think-college-sound-investment?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO

Vocabulary to help you understand the article:

a sound investment - sound means "good" or stable in this situation.  "Sound" often has a good meaning/connotation.  Although the college I attended is not famous, I received a sound education there.

on the heels of - if something is on the heels of something else, it followed something else closely.  In this case, the US Congress made a mistake (which it lately corrected) in which it accidentally raised the interest rates on student loans.  Interest is the extra money you pay which is added to your loan.

a hike - a rise

the impact - the effect

eroding - disappearing.  Wind and water erode rock.  That means the rock slowly disappears.

surveyed - 1 in 5 people who answered questions

to postpone - to put something off until later

to tarnish something - if something is tarnished, it no longer looks as good as it once did.  Silver tableware often tarnishes - it becomes a brownish color.

differentiator - this person is saying that Americans are foolish to ignore the value of a college degree.  It is an important 'differentiator' - it separates people - in the job market. If you have a college degree, you will get a better job and make more money.

mortgage delinquencies -  people who are late paying their mortgage. So basically the article is saying that even though Americans are turning against a college education, people are still borrowing a lot of money.

to accelerate s/t - to make something go faster