By Ray Hershel

BOSTON, Mass. (abc40)-- Supporters of Public Higher Education rallied in Boston on Wednesday.

They say education is getting less and less affordable for middle class students.

The rally was sponsored by the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts or PHENOM as it's known.

Funto Aina is a student at Springfield Technical Community College, "We need help, we're students, college is hard enough but it's also expensive and if we're going to get through this right, we need help."

S.T.C.C. President Ira Rubenzahl also made the trip to Boston, "The message is that if we're going to provide quality education for our students we need the commonwealth to continue to fund the college."

The rally drew parents like Don Pipczynski of Belchertown, "It's just so difficult for a working family to educate their children today, the middle class needs help now."

Students and faculty are calling for more student aid, more funding, and making public higher education more accessible.

After the rally they marched the short distance to the State House where they lobbied legislators.