College Income Gap Widens Again

When it comes to the old American dream of being able to get an education and compete in an ever increasingly demanding business world, things are changing for the worse. Worse, that is, for the people who come with very little privileges and are attempting to be the underdog in the pursuit of happiness that we all are guaranteed. According to research by UCLA's Cooperative Institutional Research Program, college freshmen in 2005 reported family income more than 60% higher than that of the national average. In other words, their parents make more than 60% above what the national average household income is, meaning that the underdog is more under than ever before. What does this mean for the future of the underprivileged? It isn't very bright.

The poll has shown that many universities are passing more and more on need-based students in favor of those with higher household incomes, something that isn't surprising but is eye-opening. As a matter of fact, the gap between average incomes for public university students has gotten smaller in comparison to their private university counterparts. Which suggests two things, public universities have become more accepted because of a growing middle class AND more privileged kids that enroll at public universities represents less opportunities for kids without average income.

Of course, this isn't to say that the kids with the above average support shouldn't be given these opportunities or that universities shouldn't admit them. Their parents have obviously worked hard and achieved a level of success that they should be proud of. By doing so they have allowed their children to reap the benefits and enjoy the good life. But this doesn't mean that those without above average incomes haven't worked hard or don't deserve the opportunity to succeed just like anyone else.

What this problem suggests more than anything else is that the cost of a college tuition is reaching a level that is unacceptable for a job market that demands a degree. We hear every year how this college or that university is raising tuition to meet this need or that while in the process eliminating yet another group of prospective students of higher education. When does the gap stop growing? When do the universities take a little more responsibility in the growing education crisis and begin to make the process more affordable across the board?

Anybody that believes that a math book really costs $185 to make or that it costs that much to make a profit raise your hand. Now smack yourself across the face with it. Anybody that agrees with the mountain of fees charged to students in their tuition, in addition to books and housing, see above. When higher education stops being a business and starts to become a tool to better our society then these things can happen, until then, the gap will continue to widen.