Michigan is not making the grade when it comes to affordability at its public colleges and universities, a report issued by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education says.

In “Measuring Up 2002,” Michigan received an affordability rating of “D-plus” for 2002, down from a “C” grade two years ago. Seventeen states had better scores than Michigan and 25 had worse grades.

Grades were largely determined by what percentage of a family’s income must be spent on college education for the child after financial aid. Michigan families on average spend 26 percent of their incomes on higher education, while families in the top five states only dish out 18 percent of their incomes.

“What you have in Michigan