College Affordability

How did we get here?

College tuition is skyrocketing, and insufficient grant aid is driving people to take on more and more dangerous debt. Combined with the failure of our public school citizens to prepare low-income and minority students for college, this situation is exacerbating an already unacceptable level of social stratification.

Students are in a unique position to make a difference on this issue, and recent successes, like the College Cost Reduction and Access law, show that there is a real chance to make college more accessible and fight the rapid increase in student debt.

Check out the information below to learn more about the issue, and to find ways to make your voice heard!

Statistics

  • Over six in ten college graduates are burdened with educational debt. Of those, four in ten, and more than half of African-American and Hispanic borrowers, are burdened with an unmanageable level of debt.
  • Between 2001 and 2010, 2 million academically qualified students will not go to college because they can't afford it.
  • Student debt is outpacing the starting salaries of jobs in teaching and social work, making it virtually impossible for many debt-laden graduates to pursue careers in fields where they are desperately needed. Nearly one quarter of all graduates from public universities and almost 4 in 10 graduates from private universities have levels of student debt that would become unmanageable at the salaries of starting teachers.
  • More and more students are delaying major life decisions as a result of increased student debt. Thirty-eight percent of college graduates delay buying their first house because of debt, 14% delay marriage, 14% delay having kids. Compared to 1991, those figures have risen by margins of 52%, 75 % and 100%, respectively.
  • A college graduate can be expected to make more than $1 million more over the course of his or her working life than a high school graduate, which makes access to higher education a key component in fighting inequality.
  • There is a long-term trend favoring merit-based aid over need based aid on the institutional and state level. This often means that too many scarce financial aid dollars are being used for those that could afford college anyway, rather than to help qualified applicants from less privileged backgrounds.
  • While there has been some steady improvement in the gap between minority and majority college enrollment, there continues to be significant disparities in the percentage of student enrolling in college, the type of institution that they enroll in, the percentage of students that graduate, and the financial situation of those students that do graduate.
  • Private or “alternative” student loans are growing at an explosive rate. Between 1995-96 and 2005-06, private student loan volume increased 913%! These loans are much more risky than loans given or guaranteed by the government, since there are few borrower protections and high or variable interest rates.
  • There is pervasive class inequality in higher education. The highest achieving low-income students in the United States go to college at the same rate as the lowest achieving high-income students.

Why students have an important role to play

  • Politicians on all levels have started to recognize that students are an important and engaged constituency. That means students have their foot in the door of Congress and many state legislatures, which is a great starting point to advocate for more fair and affordable higher education policies.
  • Students are the most important stakeholders in the campus community, and students should be at the table whenever decisions regarding college affordability are made.
  • Students have inherent credibility when talking about issues that affect their school, and they have institutions like student government, student groups, and campus newspapers that can help them make their voice heard.
  • Education should be a right, but a quick survey of the higher education system should suffice to show that it is currently a privilege. Those fortunate enough to be able to attend and afford college should do what they can to make sure everyone has the same opportunity.

Get Involved

Host an event on college affordability – Campus Progress can help you organize and event on student debt and other college affordability issues on your campus. Specifically, we can help you plan the event, find speakers, cover their travel costs, publicize the event, and more. If you are interested in hosting an event, visit: http://campusprogress.org/events

Start campaigns for college affordability on your campus – Are you facing a giant tuition hike? Is financial aid in your state about to be cut? Is your school giving more money to wealthy students than to low-income applicants? Campus Progress would love to help you do something about it. We offer Action Grants to students working on or starting campaigns on just about every issue under the progressive sun, including college affordability. In addition to funds, we can help you with planning, media, training, publicity, networking with policy experts and other organizations, and more. For more information, email organize@campusprogress.org, or visit: http://campusprogress.org/page/s/actiongrant.

Use the power of the pen to educate and expose bad policies and practices - The financial aid system was rocked by scandal in 2007 as one conflict of interest after another was exposed in financial aid offices. Good investigation by several media outlets and state attorneys general helped open the door for significant reforms of the financial aid system. You can do the same! Research your state and school’s financial aid policies – do they favor wealthier applicants or low-income students? Are all high school students getting the information and counseling they need to successfully apply for college? Why not? Campus Progress can help in two ways. First, we would love to help you get started – email organize@campusprogress.org. Finally, Campusprogress.org, our online publication by and for young people, would love to see your ideas for an article. To learn more visit: http://campusprogress.org/about/85

Resources

  • Campaign for College Affordability – A national coalition dedicated to expanding access to higher education and solving the student debt crisis.
  • Higher Ed Watch – Higher Ed Watch is a project of the New American Foundation, and is a great source for news and analysis of college affordability and related issues.
  • Opportunity Maine – A ballot initiative that was so popular that Maine’s legislature passed it before the election. It gives those who attend college in Maine and remain there after graduation generous tax credits to help repay their student loans. Opportunity Maine is working to ensure efficient and effective implementation of this new law and aggressive promotion within Maine’s college, high school and business communities.
  • Project on Student Debt - The Project on Student Debt works to increase public understanding of student borrowing and the implications for our families, economy, and society. They are a great source of information and new ideas.
  • Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG) Higher Education Project – The PIRGs have been a leader in fighting against student debt, for affordable textbooks, and a financial aid system that works for students.
  • Tuition Relief Now – Students in California are trying to pass a ballot initiative that would temporarily freeze tuition, limit future increases to inflation. It would offset these costs through a small tax hike on millionaires.
  • United States Student Association (USSA) – USSA is the oldest and largest national student-led organization, and is the official voice of students in the halls of Congress and the Department of Education. They are long-time champions in the fight to make education accessible for any student regardless of their socio-economic background and identity.