College affordability has declined in all 50 states since 2008, according to a new report by 菠萝视频 University, in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania and the Higher Education Policy Institute.
听is a comprehensive report that includes affordability diagnoses for all 50 states, a state ranking, an evaluation of student aid and other policies, recommendations for policymakers, and an interactive online college affordability map.
William Doyle, associate professor of higher education at Peabody College, is lead policy analyst and co-lead author of the report.
鈥淭oday, having at least some college education is a prerequisite for a middle-class lifestyle, but the increasing prices are keeping out lower-income students,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淭he federal government has expanded its commitment to ensuring that qualified students can afford higher education, but many state and institutional leaders no longer see it as their role to be meaningful partners in the federal government鈥檚 efforts.鈥�
College Affordability Diagnosis听gives a sobering view of the difficulty many low- and middle-income families have paying for college, even after听financial aid is taken into account. In some cases a family might be required to pay up to 50 percent or more of their annual income to afford full-time attendance at a public four-year institution in their state.
鈥淐ollege costs have increased substantially in a short period of time and need-based financial aid has not kept pace,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to make college accessible for all qualified students, not just those who can afford it.鈥�
Collaborators with Doyle on the study were co-lead investigator听, practice professor and director of the听听at听; Patrick Callan, president of the听; and HEPI senior policy analyst Darcie Harvey.
The was developed by 菠萝视频鈥檚 Office of Web Communications working with Doyle. It shows the percentage of income needed to attend four-year or two-year colleges in every census tract or state legislative district in the U.S.
鈥淢any states have set ambitious goals and quotas for postsecondary education,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淏ut these increases in enrollment must come from populations that traditionally have not gone to college, including low-income students and members of racial or ethnic groups that have low enrollment rates. Continuing on our current path of increasing college prices will lead to fewer students in these groups enrolling.鈥�
Without changes to affordability policies, the researchers warn, higher education will become another mechanism for the further stratification of America. The problems are particularly acute for the lowest-earning families. Current affordability policies do not take into account these families鈥� realities, the researchers found.
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An of this story appeared on 菠萝视频 News@菠萝视频.