The Land Of Opportunity: If You’re Wealthy
As a middle-class, out-of-state student attending Rutgers University, my top priority this election season has been the topic of college affordability. Attending Rutgers in New Brunswick currently costs out-of-state students close to $41,000 a year. The median family income in the United States in 2015 was documented at $55,755. This means that if a family wanted to send even one child to college without taking out loans or receiving scholarships, they would have to survive on barely $15,000 for the year. The calculations seem almost comical.
Therefore, the “land of opportunity” should be amended to “land of opportunity for the wealthy,” because in the cold, hard reality of things, that is only what the economic system allows for.
Yes, there are in-state schools and community colleges which one can attend for a fraction of the cost. Schools that provide a lower quality of education are also available with a more reasonable price tag, and often provide more financial aid in order to attract students. So why don’t students who cannot afford the education of their choice just settle for the cheaper option? Right? That’s the logic that governs the United States of America. The choice is simple — either settle or accept a life of impossible debt.
This conflict is especially prevalent among first-generation college students and lower-class families. The U.S Department of Education states that “inadequate academic preparation is the key factor in lack of college success”. Often, such families are not only denied the same resources as others to pursue higher education options, but are often faced with the dilemma of not having the proper information and access of how to go about planning for college. Students who have to support themselves are faced with obstacles such as loan and financial aid approvals, in which banks and colleges aim for self-profit, often providing students with misinformation that could lead to detrimental life-long consequences.
Education in the United States has transformed from an educational establishment into a big business. This transformation hits lower-income families the hardest as they struggle to keep up with the changing price-tags and hidden costs every day. Everything from the SAT to application fees add up to thousands of dollars out of pocket — which most families realistically just cannot afford. The expense of education in the United States creates a vicious cycle in which lower-income students either avoid college entirely, or are forced to drop out due to financial struggles. Consequently, this leads them to pursue lower paying jobs, and recreates the cycle for future generations. The cost of education in the United States is increasing tremendously every year. And in an age where Bachelor’s degrees are becoming not only crucial but expected, those who cannot pursue higher education are forced into an impossible rut.
We need reform and we need it now. Every May as high school graduation approaches, thousands of students across the country accept their fate. They accept their circumstances, and they accept that the “land of opportunity” cannot provide any opportunities for them. They watch as their peers pack their bags and say goodbye, excited to grow and learn over the next four years. They watch and know that their path does not lead them there. There is no doubt that these days, there are a million and one problems that demand the attention of politicians and the government. But that is no excuse to disregard what I believe is one of the biggest issues our country is currently facing.
Knowledge is the foundation for change, and something must be done to provide resources to counteract the impossibility of families all across the nation to access higher education.
