The College Conundrum: A System Rigged Against Many
Higher education is often touted as the gateway to success, yet for many, it remains an elusive dream. The traditional college system, with its soaring costs and inherent barriers, functions more like an exclusive club than a beacon of opportunity. Despite the narrative that “anyone can go to college if they work hard enough,” the reality is that higher education is a privilege—one that is often out of reach for those who need it most. Especially those who are young parents it older adults with children wanting to go back.
The Financial Burden
The escalating cost of college tuition is a well-documented crisis. In the U.S., the average cost of tuition and fees for a four-year college has increased by 179% since 1980, while wages have stagnated (CNBC, 2021).
But tuition is only the tip of the iceberg. Students also face costs for:
- Housing and food
- Textbooks, which can cost over $1,200 per year (College Board, 2023)
- Additional fees, such as technology, parking, and health insurance
These financial barriers discourage many potential students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, from even considering higher education. When college costs more than an annual full-time salary at minimum wage, it’s not just a challenge—it’s a structural barrier.
The Childcare Challenge
For student-parents, the road to a degree is even more daunting. More than one in five college students in the U.S. are parents, and yet most colleges are not designed to accommodate them (Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 2021).
- The cost of childcare is one of the biggest reasons student-parents drop out. Full-time infant care can cost over $11,000 per year, often exceeding tuition costs at public colleges (Economic Policy Institute, 2022).
- Colleges have cut on-campus childcare programs in recent years, leaving many parents without options (The Century Foundation, 2019).
For single parents or those without strong family support, this creates an impossible choice: pursue education or care for their children.
Transportation Troubles
Where you live can determine whether college is even an option. Many students reside in “education deserts”—areas where the nearest college is unreachable without a car or requires hours of commuting.
- 35% of U.S. counties have no public four-year institution (Urban Institute, 2018).
- Public transit is often unreliable, unaffordable, or nonexistent in these areas, making attending classes nearly impossible.
- Community colleges are more accessible but face declining funding, limiting availability of classes and forcing students to enroll in schools farther away (Brookings Institution, 2020).
Students who can’t afford a car or live too far from a campus are effectively shut out of higher education before they even begin.
The Opportunity Cost: Paying to NOT Work
Attending college doesn’t just mean paying tuition—it also means not earning a full-time income while studying. Many students must choose between working full-time and attending school, which greatly reduces their likelihood of graduating.
- The average college student works 30+ hours a week, but working more than 20 hours lowers graduation rates significantly (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2021).
- Those who take on student debt face an even bigger challenge: they must not only pay tuition but also accumulate loans they will be repaying for decades (Federal Reserve, 2023).
For low-income students, college isn’t just expensive—it’s a financial trap. They must risk financial instability just for the chance at earning a degree, with no guarantee of success.
A System Favoring the Privileged
When you put it all together—costs, childcare, transportation, and lost income—it becomes clear that higher education is not accessible to everyone.
Instead, the system favors:
✔ Students from wealthy families who can afford tuition and living expenses
✔ Those without children or caregiving responsibilities
✔ People who live in areas with easy access to colleges
✔ Students who don’t need to work full-time to survive
For everyone else, college is not just a challenge—it’s an obstacle course designed for them to fail.
The Path Forward: A More Equitable System
If we truly want higher education to be a path to success rather than a paywall to privilege, we need systemic changes:
1️⃣ Affordable Education
- Tuition-free or reduced-cost college programs like the TSU Promise (which covers tuition for families earning under $125,000) should be expanded nationwide (Houston Chronicle, 2024).
2️⃣ Better Childcare Support
- Investment in on-campus childcare centers would allow student-parents to continue their education without sacrificing their families’ well-being (The Century Foundation, 2019).
3️⃣ More Accessible Transportation
- Free or discounted public transportation passes for students would remove a major barrier for those without cars (American Public Transportation Association, 2021).
4️⃣ Flexible Learning Options
- Hybrid and online learning options must be expanded to accommodate students who work, care for families, or live in remote areas (Brookings, 2023).
Final Thoughts
Higher education should be about learning, growth, and opportunity. But right now, it’s just another system designed to keep certain people ahead while making it nearly impossible for others to succeed. Until we shift away from a for-profit model and invest in policies that prioritize people over profit, we will continue to see education function as a luxury instead of a right.
It’s time to dismantle the barriers that keep so many from reaching their full potential. Because education should open doors—not keep them locked behind a price tag.
