The Hidden Struggle Behind College Admissions

The struggle middle-class students experience when it comes to affording college and how to be financially smart

by IVY COE staff writer

When students think of college, many are excited for a new chapter in their lives, yet one common struggle remains among most students: the rising cost of college tuition in the United States. Out of all of these students, a particular group of them finds themselves stuck in the middle. Middle-class families tend to make too much money to qualify for federal grants that are reserved for low-income families, yet they don’t make enough to pay for college altogether. Larger schools in Michigan, such as the University of Michigan, have an overall average cost of around $31,000 before aid. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, college tuition has undergone an average inflation rate of 6.38 percent per year since 1977, and it continues to increase as time goes on. Ac-

Graphic: T. Whiteford

cording to research done by CNBC in December of 2019, college tuition has risen 25 percent over the past 10 years. Families want to give their children the best opportunities possible, but that can be difficult when money is an issue. Parents of middle-class families are forced to decide between watching their children take on large loans, or risking their own financial security in order to help them. “The biggest struggle is that there often is not enough ‘free’ money for students - so they have to take out loans. It is important to find a school that is affordable for the family,” explains Vicki Beam, the owner of Michigan College Planning, a program that helps families with financial and academic support. For scholars who don’t qualify for Federal Pell Grants (a subsidy from the Federal Government

to help students pay for college) and institutional need-based aid, scholarships are available. However, these can be competitive with many people applying, and not all students will make the cut. “Often there are specific scholarships for different majors, or scholarships from your parents’ workplaces. Do well in school so that the schools will be more likely to offer financial aid or scholarships that are based on academic performance,” advises Michelle Morrison, an administrative assistant at CHS. If a student is a part of the middle-class looking for advice, here’s what they need to know. If they have a higher GPA or scored well on the SAT and ACT, they can look for colleges that give out a lot of merit-based scholarships. These could be found by going to a university website and doing a scholarship search. Some colleges, like Michigan State University, have an entire database of scholarships ranging from scholarships for merit finalists to scholarships for specific criterias such as debate and creative arts. “The most common misconception is that some students feel they won’t qualify for aid because their parents make too much - but if a school offers merit based aid the income doesn’t have an impact. Other students will qualify for financial need based aid - even if they don’t have the grades to qualify for merit - but it is important to have the grades to be admitted to the school of choice. Most families are surprised when they learn what their expected family contribution (EFC) is after they complete the FAFSA.,” Beam says. Certain interests that students may have often have scholarships connected to them. If a student excels in a sport or skill, there are many benefits. Also, prepare to stay open minded about college, and know that your most affordable option might not be your dream college. Families should plan on calculating how much college costs, compared to how much the student is likely to make after graduation. If the scholarship chase is not for you, there are other ways to cut the cost. “Consider starting at your local community college. If you plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree, the first two years of classes are considered general education; it makes great economic sense to pay considerably less tuition for the same content. Another idea would be to consider taking advantage of early college/dual enrollment and have the state pay the tuition for classes before you graduate from high school,” states Kari Kahler, Associate Dean of Learning Services at NMC. Central counselor Kim Fleming has many recommendations for middle class students. “Middle-income students should fill out the FAFSA because most students qualify for some type of aid from the federal government, state government, or from the college they are applying to.” The FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application can be filled out by current and future college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for financial aid. “Start saving now. Complete the FAFSA. Do your research on different schools and the aid they offer. Consider going to a community college for the first two years to save money and get your prerequisites out of the way,” Morrison suggests. There are ways to get past this struggle felt by middle-income families. Starting to plan early is a great way to get ahead in the process. Whether your plan after high school is college or not, start preparing now so that you can maximize your experience after graduation, while still being financially responsible and planning for your future. //