Education specialists -- including some in the Education Department itself -- say there is no need for President Clinton's massive federal education program. They believe colleges are open and financial assistance is available to nearly all who qualify to enroll.

• The President's latest budget calls for a 48 percent increase in federal spending for higher education.

• Yet college enrollments are at record levels -- and are expected to keep on climbing.

• Of the 79 percent of 1992 high school graduates who said they wanted to go to college, three-quarters had enrolled by 1994.

• Experts say that the lack of a primary education, family background and student ability -- not lack of financial assistance -- is the reason some youngsters don't go on to college.

James Heckman, economics and public policy professor at the University of Chicago, points out that community college tuition is "next to nothing."

• In 1995, some 61.9 percent of high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities.

• The number of 14- to 35-year-olds enrolled in college has doubled over the past 30 years -- to 12.4 million in 1995.

• The revenue of college institutions has grown from $65 billion in 1981 to $179 billion in 1994.

• Federal government aid during that period has gone from $9.7 billion to $22 billion -- not including funds for Pell grants -- federal cash given to students from lower income families.

Source: Jeff A. Taylor, "Is an Education Crusade Needed?" Investor's Business Daily, February 11, 1997.