this is "nightline." >> tonight, sticker shock. millions of young people soon heading off to college with big dreams. >> i definitely want to be in the journalism space. i also kind of dreamed like

being oprah. >> the big question, how to pay for it. >> what's the scariest part. >> you start to wonder is my family going to help me? is the loans going to be enough. >> some students shut out or facing crippling debt. >> you can ruin your financial life at 18, but you can't buy a beer. and what happens now after the supreme court's blow to president biden's student loan program. plus, saving lives. buffalo bills safety damar hamlin's new mission after nearly dieing on the football field. what's bringing him to yankee stadium. ♪ i like to dancing, it looks like this ♪ >> and jason mraz one-on-one with the sing writer, celebrating 25 years of stardom, with hits like "remedy." ♪ going to worry my life away ♪ >> how his mother influenced his new sound. >> she heard my demos. they were acoustic. she said okay, i've heard that before. >> and the moment that got him dancing in the studio.

♪ i feel like dancing, i feel like dancing ♪ >> juju: "nightline" will be right back. (vo) for over 50 years purina cat chow has been helping cats feel at home. with trusted nutrition, no wonder it's the number one dry cat food in america. come home to cat chow.

good evening and thank you for joining us.

i'm phil lipof. we begin with the supreme court striking down president biden's student debt relief plan. the price of a college education and student debt on everyone's minds. a new abc news/ipsos poll revealing 45% of americans support the court's decision, while 40% disapprove. older americans are more likely to agree with the ruling. 61% of those 65 and older approve of the decision. that's compared to 40% of 30 to 49-year-olds and 31% of those under the age of 30. the president announcing his plan b within hours of that court's decision on friday. >> today's decision has closed one path. now we're going to pursue another. >> that includes lowering the amount borrowers have to pay each month on student loans from 10% of their discretionary income to 5%. there are no payments for individuals making less than $33,000 or a family of four making less than 67,500.

abc's mary bruce recently spoke with students about how they're grappling with the skyrocketing cost of college. >> it's 15,000 a semester really worth it? how much would i be able to patriotic back over the years. it's nerve-racking. would i be able to get a good job? was my degree worth it? >> it feel like the debt isn't really worth it. >> reporter: it's long been the american dream. get a good education, get a good job. but tell that to a high school senior. >> when we talk about graduation, it gets nerve-racking, like really nerve-racking. >> reporter: graduates like mauricio and haley are getting ready to take a daunting step. what's the scariest part? >> not going into debt. and you start to wonder, is my family going to help me? is the loans going to be enough? >> reporter: with college tuition rates rising and student debt skyrocketing, the middle class is often squeezed the hardest, leaving many to wonder is paying for college an american nightmare.

we took that question all the way to the top to the secretary of education, miguel cardona. you seem to be really living proof of the american dream and the power of the public education system in our country. proof that the system is working and available for anyone who works hard. >> yeah. >> reporter: do you think that is still the case today? >> i do. i really do. i still believe education is the great equalizer. i believe that in this country, you have tremendous opportunity. >> reporter: but many are wondering if that opportunity is available to all. at the heart of the college crisis, students are trying to avoid that debt in the first place. back in 1963, it cost about $8,000 per year in today's money to attend a four-year public institution. and a little over $15,000 to go to a private school. fast forward to 2022. those public schools now average about more than $20,000 a year, with private universities ballooning to over $45,000 a year.

it's led more than 40 million adults to take on staggering debt, owing $1.6 trillion to the education department. sarah harverson, a former college admissions officer said schools are driving up costs to better compete for applicants. >> they have buildings that need to be renovated or replaced, facilities that need to look a certain way to attract perspective applicants or perspective students to ultimately apply. so a college feels like they are entitled to have a tuition that is incredibly high. but ultimately, it's the admissions office that is the one responsible for how well the college or university does. >> reporter: it's a tough financial reality that these graduating seniors here at the harver school in new york know all too well. raise your hand if you're stressed out by the college application process.

you're lifting to the ceiling. the hand doesn't go high enough? >> reporter: for haley, the dream has been to going to syracuse university, but a hefty price tag, $85,000 for the next school year. >> i like their spirit. there was a lot of diversity. there was people that i could recognize myself with. it was literally a dream. but it's not going to work. >> reporter: after years of hard work and suffering a personal loss, she opted not to even apply because she felt she couldn't afford it. >> my dad died, and i was really hoping that even with him not here, i would get to go to a place i dreamed of. it dawned on me the world really isn't a fair place. even if my mom makes six figures, which is honestly i used to think it's a lot, it really isn't with just one parent and three other siblings. >> getting financial aid is not for the faint of heart. it is not a simple process. it's a very weird thing to have

one of the biggest expenses in your life have a price tag on it that is completely unknown. >> let's say if you're middle class and you make only 80 k. >> you're not poor enough. that's the conversation. >> you're not poor enough. >> how poor are you? because you're not poor enough. then you're like that's why it's middle, right? you're stuck in middle and it's hard to climb from that. >> reporter: like so many others caught in the middle, the harbor school students had to adjust their expectations. three out of four, diego, haley and trinity had to forgo their top choice. for a lot of people there is a sense college is attainable if you just work really hard. you can get there you can pay for it. there are options out there. is that realistic? >> no. >> no. but that's a privilege to think that way. if you think that way, that working hard is good enough, because it's not. working hard isn't -- we all work hard. a lot of people work hard. >> right. >> there is this thing where people don't have ambition. a lot of people have ambition. that's not the about pro. the problem is access. >> reporter: we asked the

country's top education official if a college education can still be that great equalizer. >> yes. i feel very strongly that it can be. >> reporter: but how? the math is just brutal. >> because there are multiple pathways that we're really pushing. so you could think a four-year college as one pathway. we're going have millions of jobs, high-skilled, high-paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree. so it might mean you go to a two-year college. you know, we have a mess. we have a broken system that we're fixing. >> reporter: so we've been following along with some students at public school in new york. and i want to play for you some of what they have said about going through this process. >> i had this whole elaborate plan in my head where i would work and i would get all these loans and i would pay them off after i graduated. and it's dude, if you're in debt for all that, your whole life and you're paying off your whole life, you're not going to have money to take the risk. >> >> reporter: d does that mean the whole student loan process is broken?

>> absolutely. you can ruin your financial life at 18, but you can't buy a beer. >> reporter: what do you say to that? >> they're right. they're right. the system is not designed to give high school students the options that they need to be successful. and this is why we're increasing transparence it is. this is why we're making an income-driven plan so that when they graduate, they can pay what they can afford. >> reporter: do you think the federal student loan program is still effective for students right snonow? >> it is for some. but not enough. think about the wasted talent and potential in this country because we're not making it more affordable. it works for some, but not enough. >> reporter: but the students at harbor school tell us they have a secret weapon, their counselor, jessica cuevas. it's her job to give the students a reality check. >> it's probably one of the most gut-wrenching and awful conversations i have to have. who am i to say that this is not going to be feasible for you after all of the effort they've put in to getting their recommendation letters and their essays and doing everything that they needed to.

>> reporter: with rising costs come rising doubts. even though college graduates can make roughly $1 million more throughout their lifetime, a majority of americans no longer believe college is worth the price. college enrollments down by almost 10% in the last decade, with many students now taking a different path. >> is college worth it? i do not think that question is being asked, because people don't recognize that there is a return in terms of higher wages down the road. i think people are asking that question because they don't necessarily see that return as being worth the cost. >> reporter: back at harbor's college day, students are sharing their different plans. some have chosen to go trade schools. but trinity, diego, haley, and mauricio have faith that traditional college is right for them, despite the challenges. trinity will be attending syracuse on a full ride after getting wait-listed at harvard. >> i definitely want to be in the journalism space. i also kind of dreamed of being

oprah in a way. >> reporter: diego also studying journalism but at suny new paltz. he'll still have to way about $2,000 a year. >> when you read a good book or article, damn, i want to be one of those people. >> reporter: mauricio is leaving new york to attend babson college in massachusetts. he may be taking out loans to cover about $5500 per year. >> i plan to use my degree on opening my own small business. >> reporter: and haley, who dreamt of going syracuse will still be heading upstate, but to albany. >> college is like a gamble. it's never guaranteed to ever, like, toe get where you want to be. >> reporter: there is no easy solution for rising college cost, but these students have managed to balance their dreams with reality. >> phil: our thanks to mary. and up next, jason mraz on his longevity and his new music. ♪ lucky i'm in love with my best

friend, lucky to have been i have been ♪ ♪ lucky to be coming home again ♪ as someone living with type 2 diabetes, i want to keep it real and talk about some risks. with type 2 diabetes you have up to 4 times greater risk of stroke, heart attack, or death. even at your a1c goal, you're still at risk ...which if ignored could bring you here... ...may put you in one of those... ...or even worse. too much? that's the point. get real about your risks and do something about it. talk to your health care provider about ways to lower your risk of stroke, heart attack, or death. learn more at getrealaboutdiabetes.com this all-new ariya is an elegant ev. yeah, with 389 horsepower. ♪ and all-wheel drive. ♪ it's beautiful. it's a beast.

it's electric. with an edge. oh, let's go with that. ♪ i have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. thanks to skyrizi, oh, let's go with that. i'm on my way with clearer skin. 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months. and skyrizi is just 4 doses a year after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. nothing on my skin means everything! ♪ nothing is everything ♪ ask your dermatologist about skyrizi. learn how abbvie could help you save. (chef vo) fancy feast. chef-inspired. cat-adored. every silky broth, every impeccable paté, every delicious detail... brings you and your cat... closer together. fancy feast. love is in the details.

can a can of lysol take care of my snotty sofa? can-do mildewy tiles? can-do - these? - yup, it's the can-do can. nothing kills more germs on more surfaces than lysol disinfectant spray.

>> phil: grammy award winner jus jason mraz marking a milestone. tonight his recipe for longevity, and why he feels like dancing. he sat down with "nightline" coankler byron pits. >> byron: jason, welcome to "nightline." >> hey, it's an honor to believe

here. >> byron: first thing, you're a hat guy. >> thank you for noticing. my stepdad was a hat guy. he was very dapper. he always finished his outfit with a hat. he gave one when i was 7 years old and it's been on my head ever since. >> byron: i like it. we know you from your hit singles like the remedy, i'm yourself. ♪ i'm sure there is no need to complicate our time is short, this is our fate i'm yourself ♪ >> byron: can you believe it's been 25 years you've been in this game? >> no, i can't. and i'm so grateful. i still feel like a contest winner, because when i write songs, i'm really just making things up, and i'm trying to tap into a true emotion or an urgent message. and i can't believe that any listener would hold it and make it their own and elevate me for as long as they have. >> byron: you've been doing it

for a while, as we mentioned. 25 years in an industry that often chews people out and spits them out. >> that's right. >> byron: you recently had a birthday. happy belated birthday. >> thank you. >> byron: 46. what does that feel like? >> it feels amazing. i set the bar very i figured out in the coffee shops i was making enough money to get by. i didn't shoot for the stars. i've been surfing sound waves. >> byron: your new album mystical magical rhythmical ride is your new album. let's listen to one of the tracks, "i feel like dancing". >> okay. ♪ even if it's raining, i'm not complaining, i feel like dancing, i feel like dancing ♪ ♪ i feel like dancing, i feel like dancing, i feel like dancing, i feel like dancing ♪ >> byron: well, i enjoyed that, and you clearly are as well.

>> i love it. i'm having a blast. >> byron: this seems like a different lane for you. what's that about? >> well, i'm trying to have new experiences. when i look at my set list, i want to still try to write songs that i don't have on the set list yet. what i didn't have were a few dance numbers. and i say that because i'd watch my audience pop up and dance, but then i'd go back and play a this dance request that my audience. >> byron: this journey. >> for sure. >> byron: to have fun. >> she heard my demos. they were acoustic. okay, i've heard that before. >> byron: sweet, lovely fine. >> sweet, lovely fine. you need to turn it up before it's too late. i heard those words "before it's too late." she must be speaking from experience. you're right. our fans have been asking for it. and my mom is one of my biggest fans. so we listened to her and went into the studio to make a dance record. >> byron: you live in many lanes. there is the jason mraz

foundation. your advocacy work across the world and of course your avocado farm. does that distract you? does it allow you to be focused or give energy in different places? >> yeah, energy in different places. what we're doing here is in the airwaves and music is in the airwaves. but going back to the farm and working with the trees and in the gardens and pulling weeds is literally grounding where the rest of my days are spent touring and flying around. and when i work with my foundation, we work with youth, that's an opportunity to just give back to programs the same kind of programs that i grew up in, after-school programs, summer programs that nurtured my artistic interests. >> byron: i'm curious. in your industry that changes all the time, when this cancel culture age, has anyone ever cautioned you about being so socially active? hey, man, you may alienate joumpl fans? >> yeah, i feel like my career was starting out, i kind of at the same time as the internet and social media with myspace and various sites like that, aol

and all that and sure, there would occasionally be fans that would say please don't share that. but what you quickly realize it's just because they don't agree with that. but we live in a democracy. and i think it's important that we all vocalize. because we learn from each other through debate. we learn by people sharing what's in their heart. >> byron: what's next for you? >> i want to be a role model to young people so they can fulfill their dreams. i get to live my dream. and so i'm going ride this dream as long as i can. >> byron: where does this come from, this man who is sitting in front of me now who seems authentically kind, gentle, present. >> thank you for that acknowledgment. i really think it's because of music, and because i interface with the arts, whether it's through writing or playing an treatment, leaning into a piano. even if i'm alone, music helps me feel seen and heard, because i almost become a witness of that process. i'm just mystified by it, and it keeps me humble.

the fact that i can lean into this magic and that the public gives me the space to do it, i want others to be mystified and have a magical life as well, you know? it's a miracle that we're here at all. >> byron: amen. his new al bunnell, magical magical rhythmical radical ride. jason mraz, thank you so much. >> thanks for having a me. up next, saving lives. hamlin is training some of the r new york yankees. i have active psoriatic arthritis. but with skyrizi to treat my skin and joints, i'm feeling this moment. along with clearer skin skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and is just 4 doses a year after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. there's nothing like clearer skin and better movement-and that means everything! ask your doctor about skyrizi today.

learn how abbvie could help you save. (owner) purina one... we switched and wow! from day 1, its proven natural nutrition supports charlie's strong immune system... and ginger's healthy heart. (vo) healthy differences today and for a lifetime. purina one. a difference from day one.

summer is a great time to go the extra mile. ♪ the extra mile to see your friends. the extra mile to see your family. the extra mile to see the world. ♪ volvo mild hybrids. no plug-in required so you can go the extra summer mile. summer safely. my name is wendy, i'm 51 years old, and i'm a hospital administrator. when i talk to patients you can just see from here up when you're wearing a mask. and i have noticed those lines beginning to really become not so much moderate but more severe. i'm still wendy and i got botox® cosmetic. and i'm really happy with the results because they're very subtle, and i feel like i look like myself, but just less lines. botox® cosmetic is fda approved, to temporarily make frown lines, crow's feet and forehead lines look better. the effects of botox® cosmetic may spread hours to weeks

after injection causing serious symptoms. alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness maybe a sign of a life threatening condition. do not receive botox® cosmetic if you have a skin infection. side effects may include allergic reactions, injection site pain, headache, eyebrow, eyelid drooping and eyelid swelling. tell your doctor about your medical history. muscle or nerve conditions, and medications including botulinum toxins. as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. see for yourself at botoxcosmetic.com hi, can i help you? - maybe. i'd like to look at dolce & gabbana, versace, burberry, ray-ban, persol, oakley, costa, michael kors, coach and ralph lauren? ♪ regular or polarized? sunglass hut. find every shade of you.

and finally tonight, damar

hamlin taking his life-saving mission to yankee stadium. the buffalo bills safety throwing out the first pitch at yankee stadium. his appearance kick off the start of the annual hope week. hours earlier he was on the field helping players and others learn cpr. back in january, hamlin's quick-thinking trainer was credited with saving his life by administering cpr after he suffered cardiac arrest during a monday night football game. a remarkable recovery, and now a new mission. that's "nightline." you can watch all of our full episodes on hulu. we'll see you right back here same time tomorrow. thanks for staying up with us, and good night, america.