Education is as accessible as it's ever been. We're probably just talking about different things.

Accessible? Meaning it's available for purchase if you have the money? Or actually affordable?

(first quack) "For example, in 2022–23, the average total cost of attendance for first-time, full-time undergraduate students living on campus at 4-year degree-granting institutions was higher at private nonprofit institutions ($58,600) than at private for-profit institutions ($33,600) and public institutions ($27,100).4"

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76

Or, if the requirement of a college degree for high school level work suggests, an expensive barrier for employment?

(random quack on the topic I could find) https://www.vox.com/policy/23628627/degree-inflation-college...

You can say luxury sports cars are "accessible" if you want to finance a $150,000 car. And effectively that's what many (most? all?) college degrees are: luxury sports cars.