College: Who Pays?
Em
English 0802
11 November 2012
College: Who Pays? Many students in America enter college with the primary goal of obtaining a pre-professional credential; which implies a fighting chance in the current job market. A college education in America has become synonymous with a flourishing middle-class and thus a stable economy. Ironically, the current state of the economy and America’s system of higher education are seemingly at odds; the economy, in its current state, hinders the growth of higher education as it pertains to equality and availability to all. This means that the scarce availability of funds for higher education make it impossible for there to be equal access to higher education in America. The American system of higher education, unable to accommodate the needs of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, perpetuates inequality in society and creates a system that sustains the wealth of Americas most privileged, while limiting the prospects of the former. This means that for a growing majority of the population, opportunities to pursue higher education are becoming increasingly narrow; and the goal and implications of obtaining a pre- professional credential are seen as risky. The pursuit of higher education can be seen as risky for low- income students because of low graduation rates and high accumulations of debt which are a result of the deficiency of government funding for grant programs and public institutions of higher education. Students from low-income families with aspirations to pursue higher education are at a huge disadvantage both financially and educationally and are faced with these realities when making the decision to actually attend college; and more often than not, these realities are the basis for decisions not to attend. The exclusion of this group of people, whether self-inflicted or institutionalized, is a regression back to the exclusionary history of higher education in America. This regression will potentially
English 0802
11 November 2012
College: Who Pays? Many students in America enter college with the primary goal of obtaining a pre-professional credential; which implies a fighting chance in the current job market. A college education in America has become synonymous with a flourishing middle-class and thus a stable economy. Ironically, the current state of the economy and America’s system of higher education are seemingly at odds; the economy, in its current state, hinders the growth of higher education as it pertains to equality and availability to all. This means that the scarce availability of funds for higher education make it impossible for there to be equal access to higher education in America. The American system of higher education, unable to accommodate the needs of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, perpetuates inequality in society and creates a system that sustains the wealth of Americas most privileged, while limiting the prospects of the former. This means that for a growing majority of the population, opportunities to pursue higher education are becoming increasingly narrow; and the goal and implications of obtaining a pre- professional credential are seen as risky. The pursuit of higher education can be seen as risky for low- income students because of low graduation rates and high accumulations of debt which are a result of the deficiency of government funding for grant programs and public institutions of higher education. Students from low-income families with aspirations to pursue higher education are at a huge disadvantage both financially and educationally and are faced with these realities when making the decision to actually attend college; and more often than not, these realities are the basis for decisions not to attend. The exclusion of this group of people, whether self-inflicted or institutionalized, is a regression back to the exclusionary history of higher education in America. This regression will potentially