In a society that highlights the extreme — high-income families that can afford college tuition and lower-income families that are more applicable to need-based financial aid — the middle-class is often overshadowed. Trapped in a financial dilemma with little recognition or relief, these families are in desperate need of aid.
In the U.S., “middle-income” is defined as a household “earning between two-thirds and double the household median income.” Based on this, the middle class income ranges between $53,740 and $161,220 a year.
Typically, financial aid packages are affected by income level. While needs vary per income level, middle classes tend to receive fewer amounts of scholarships and federal grants, and overall the value decreases as we go up the household income ladder.
On average, students from middle-class or high-income households end up with more student debt than those of lower classes. The middle class is often compelled into a tough spot that leaves them overlooked. On one hand, they make “too much” to qualify for need-based financial aid. On the other hand, they earn “too little” to comfortably cover education costs and costs of living without strain.
To exacerbate the situation, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid recently removed the sibling discount, which previously allowed families to divide their Expected Family Contribution by the number of children in college, making them eligible for additional federal student aid as the EFC number decreases. Without this, families that have enough money to send one child to college but face struggles affording double the amount of tuition will be left on their own, particularly affecting the middle class once again.
As a high school senior deciding which colleges I should apply to, tuition is one of the most important factors. No matter how much I love the campus or its programs, money will always be an obstacle. In accordance with the increasing demand for college education in the past years, tuition will likely continue rising, as it has been in the past years. A way to include and provide targeted assistance to each income class is crucial.
Another group struggling to make ends meet are temporary residents. Federal student aid normally excludes temporary residents, or in other words, those that are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. These families are of foreign nationality but legally work and live in the U.S. for a certain period of time. Despite paying taxes including federal and state income taxes (although requirements depend on income, employment, visa status, etc.), they are unable to receive much of the financial aid that is supposedly easily accessible for everyone, driving them into serious financial struggles. The U.S. is ranked among the top three most expensive countries for international students. Temporary residents are often classified as international students in colleges, which means higher tuition than domestic students, sometimes reaching two or three times as much. This is not to mention the non-tuition expenses, from textbooks to transportation; another reason why the financial aid system should be ameliorated for these disregarded groups.
Middle-income class constitutes 50% of our population. We as a society tend to neglect the “middle” because they are not on the extremes of the spectrum. With college tuition tracing an exponential surge, we need to address ways to help the middle class find the equitable help they deserve. Instead of fixating on the two extremes, a financial aid system that recognizes the unique yet common struggles of the middle class should be allocated.
