Anyone know the college graduation rate of the poorest Americans?

[Anonymous]

I support the free community college movement. That would help so many kids. It is a darn shame it has only caught on in a couple states - it really should be nationwide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall seeing a chart in a book years back the college success broken down by race, household income, and married and unmarried households. I want to say Black and Hispanic children, from the poorest households, and raised by a single parent had less than a five percent chance of ever graduating from college? It was startling how low it was. Can anyone confirm that? I can't find that data anywhere. I'd be very appreciative. Thank you.

Of course it's lower. The stress of finances, and not having parents/family who understand the college process. Kids often have to take time off to help family (work to pay the bills) or earn enough money to pay for the next semester.

That is why colleges work hard to improve their number for First generation, low income students, etc. Most of us are way too privileged to understand that it only takes one small change in life to mean the kid might not continue with college (and it's normally not academics failure behind the not attending/graduating)

Not just lower, practically nonexistent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That pretty much shows what I suspected - the lower SES you are, the less higher ed you are able to get.

That data is 10-20 years old, too, so I suspect it has only gotten worse as costs have risen.

Radford was going to cost us ~$25K/year for tuition, room and board. That is the cheapest 4 year public in VA (my daughter opted for a private school that costs more, of course ) 4 years living at home at Mason costs $60K in JUST tuition. I'm sorry, but these costs are ridiculous.

Yes, however the poor get excellent FA. It’s the donut hole families that get screwed.

Only at the Top 25-30 schools who offer full FA.

Majority of schools do NOT. So the kid from a low income family who can barely pay the bills might not come up with a way to pay the $10K bill for spring semester, so they stop attending and often don't come back.

That is not true. Decades ago I went to a huge state school which was and is only ranked in the 50 to 100 range. I was an RA to cover my dorm fees. The lowest income freshmen would brag about not only going to college for free, they would brag about receiving large checks every semester via financial aid refunds. Even though they were literally being paid to go to college, most of them would just disappear after a semester or two. Flunked out, quit, unmotivated, whatever it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That pretty much shows what I suspected - the lower SES you are, the less higher ed you are able to get.

That data is 10-20 years old, too, so I suspect it has only gotten worse as costs have risen.

Radford was going to cost us ~$25K/year for tuition, room and board. That is the cheapest 4 year public in VA (my daughter opted for a private school that costs more, of course ) 4 years living at home at Mason costs $60K in JUST tuition. I'm sorry, but these costs are ridiculous.

Yes, however the poor get excellent FA. It’s the donut hole families that get screwed.

Their financial aid seems "excellent" to you because your child could attend on what they get. Many of them still cannot.

If being poor is such an advantage why didn't you take a lower wage job so that your child would qualify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poor Student + Poor College = Poor Result
Poor Student + Rich College = Good Result
Rich Student + Poor College = Good Result
Rich Student + Rich College = Good Result

It is logical that poor kids going to poor schools don't finish.

+1m

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That pretty much shows what I suspected - the lower SES you are, the less higher ed you are able to get.

That data is 10-20 years old, too, so I suspect it has only gotten worse as costs have risen.

Radford was going to cost us ~$25K/year for tuition, room and board. That is the cheapest 4 year public in VA (my daughter opted for a private school that costs more, of course ) 4 years living at home at Mason costs $60K in JUST tuition. I'm sorry, but these costs are ridiculous.

Yes, however the poor get excellent FA. It’s the donut hole families that get screwed.

Their financial aid seems "excellent" to you because your child could attend on what they get. Many of them still cannot.

If being poor is such an advantage why didn't you take a lower wage job so that your child would qualify?

You are showing your ignorance.