Access to Higher Education: Barriers and Benefits

Michigan

 “Michigan’s civic health, prosperity, and success in creating good jobs for its citizens depend on its ability to increase college [access and] success for all students, including low-income and first generation college-goers, adult learners, and students of color.” 2

“Michigan is one of four states that spend more on corrections [prisons] than on higher education.  Since 2001, lawmakers and the governor cut about $250 million in funding to the 15 public universities, prompting hefty tuition increases for students and their parents, and raising fears that higher education is being priced beyond the reach of those of modest means.  The corrections budget is more than $400 million higher than in 2001.”3

“In the past six years, state aid to [Michigan] universities has dipped 11 percent. ...  Over that same period of time 49 other states ... managed to increase aid to their schools by an average of 23 percent.”4

In 2007, “Michigan [was] tied with Colorado for cutting taxpayer support of its 15 public colleges by more than any other state except Missouri.”5

In 2007, tuition at Michigan public universities was the fifth highest in the nation.6

$4,000 Michigan Promise scholarships provide enough funding to cover much of the cost of tuition for an associate’s or technical degree or to make a modest contribution toward the cost of a four-year degree.  While this is, indeed, a promising initiative, it has limits.  Designed to provide incentives for students to enter and complete college promptly after graduating from high school, scholarships are unavailable to older students. 7

As a nearly universal award (over 94% of high school juniors had qualifying test scores in 2007), Michigan Promise scholarships provide funds for many students from affluent families who can afford college without such assistance, instead of directing resources to students with greatest financial need.8

“Most of Michigan’s need-based grants are awarded to students enrolled in private colleges.  They do not ease the financial burden for students at public colleges.”9

United States

 “High school graduation rates [in the U.S.] peaked at 77 percent in 1969, fell back to 70 percent in 1995, and have stayed in this range into the current decade.  The graduation rate for disadvantaged minorities is thought to be closer to 50 percent.” 11

Younger generations of Americans “are losing ground relative to their peers in many developing countries.”12

Access to higher education in the U.S. is powerfully determined by family income and wealth.  Nationally, only 10% of those with family incomes in the bottom quartile (up to $38,660) complete bachelor’s degrees by age 24, compared with 72% of those in the top quartile (over $105,800).13

In 2005-2006, “about one in three black and Hispanic children and one in four Native American children attended schools with high poverty levels, compared with one in 10 Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders and one in 25 white children.”14

“The Census Bureau reports that adults with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $54,689 in 2006, compared to $29,448 for those with no more than a high school diploma.”15

Higher education provides benefits not only for individuals but also for society as a whole.  College graduates are more likely to receive employer-provided health insurance and pensions.  They pay more taxes, are healthier and less likely to become unemployed or poor, foster higher levels of educational attainment in their children, use fewer public services, and are more likely to volunteer, vote and be open to new ideas.16

Footnotes

ongoing Initiatives

Student Parents

Access To Education

WorkLife Issues

Economy

Diversity

Violence