"Problems in the student-loan market are especially hurting upper-middle-class families whose children won't go to the local community college, but are not quite up to snuff for the Ivy League," The Street reports. "The tight credit markets are making private student loans more costly and difficult to obtain, with several major lenders stepping out of the fray. Those who will be hit worst by the student-loan crunch will be students whose parents don't earn enough to pay the escalating cost of enrollment. The problem will be particularly acute for students entering schools that have high tuitions, but don't have large endowments to entice them to come."