The missing middle: Christine Schueckler on making college affordable to middle-class students

College tuition costs continue to rise in the U.S., and even with student loan debt and college affordability reforms, middle-class students often struggle to pay for a college degree. The college affordability crisis matters beyond higher education: researchers have connected it to the shrinking middle class in the U.S. In this op-ed, Christine Schueckler, a student at the University of Virginia, explains the economic and personal consequences of the “middle-class squeeze” on U.S. college campuses.

Christine Schueckler, "Can I Afford College? High Tuition Costs Squeeze Middle Class Students Like Me," USA Today, 1 August 2024.

 

1. Schueckler references the “middle-class squeeze” in her argument about college affordability for middle-class students. According to her, why are middle-class students underrepresented on many college campuses? What resources and programs do these students lack access to that help low-income or high-income students afford college?
   
2. Schueckler uses statistics and her own personal experience to support her claims. Identify one piece of evidence that you found particularly persuasive. Why was this evidence persuasive to you? Explain how this evidence supports one of her claims.
3. A college degree is thought to be a smart investment, yet many middle-class students are in the position of taking out significant loans to finance their degree. Read this op-ed, “Yes, College Is Worth It.” How might Schueckler respond to this claim: “Beyond the benefits college graduates receive, society is better off with more college-educated workers” (para. 14). Compose a short response from her perspective in which she agrees, disagrees, or agrees and disagrees with the authors’ argument.
4. Imagine you are Schueckler’s editor. Suggest another naysayer argument that you think she should introduce, explain, and address in her essay. Identify where in her essay she should include this naysayer, and explain how inserting this naysayer will help Schueckler strengthen and focus her argument.

Comments

[Nic B]

The consistent rising cost of college tuition has put a significant financial burden on many middle-class families all across the US, including my own. In Christine Schueckler’s post her argument shed some light on the so-called “middle class squeeze”. The middle-class squeeze is the phenomenon where middle class students/families are commonly overlooked when discussing the topic of the affordability of college. Unlike low-income students who usually qualify for grants, financial aid, and other assistance towards their tuition, the middle class finds themselves in a Gray area between the wealthy and the poor. This is an ongoing problem that has happened to me and many families that I know. We make barely enough not to qualify for aid, but not nearly enough to pay 10s of thousands of dollars and tuition every year.
Schueckler brings up a great point in that middle class students are underrepresented on many campuses because they lack the access to the resources to allow them to even step foot on campus. This has happened to many of my friends out of high school, coming from an average suburban area on Long Island most of my friends attended Community College out of high school. After two years most founded college on the island that they could commute to to avoid the absurd costs of housing, fees, food plans, etc… it is a shame because having a true college experience is something that no one shouldn't miss out on. Many of my peers missed out on meeting new friends, creating long and lasting connections, and the fun that the college experience brings.
I believe a step towards fixing this problem is addressing the spending that the government oversees. Our political representatives should focus on creating programs and departments that invest in the future of our country by making the education of our younger generations much more affordable for the people middle class people who keep the country running, Addressing this issue will require more inclusive financial aid policies that can ensure that students from all backgrounds have a chance to get a higher education.

[Nic B - Final submission]

The consistent rising cost of college tuition has put a significant financial burden on many middle-class families all across the US, including my own. In Christine Schueckler’s post her argument shed light on the so-called “middle class squeeze”. The middle-class squeeze is the phenomenon where middle class students/families are commonly overlooked when discussing the topic of the affordability of college. Unlike low-income students who usually qualify for grants, financial aid, and other assistance towards their tuition, the middle class finds themselves in a gray area between the wealthy and the poor. This is an ongoing problem that has happened to me and many families that I know. We make barely enough not to qualify for aid, but not nearly enough to pay tens of thousands of dollars for tuition every year. Schueckler brings up a great point that middle class students are underrepresented on many campuses because they lack the access to the resources to allow them to even step foot on campus. This has happened to many of my friends out of high school, coming from a regular middle class suburban area on Long Island most of my friends attended Community College out of high school. After two years most found a college on the island that they could commute to so they can avoid the absurd costs of housing, fees, food plans, etc… It is a shame because having a true college experience is something that no one shouldn't miss out on. Many of my peers missed out on meeting new friends, creating long and lasting connections, and the fun that the college experience brings. I believe a step towards fixing this problem is addressing the spending that the government oversees. Our political representatives should focus on creating programs and departments that invest in the future of our country by making the education of our younger generations much more affordable for the people middle class people who keep the country running, Addressing this issue will require more inclusive financial aid policies that can ensure that students from all backgrounds have a chance to get a higher education.

[Melissa B]

When reading the blog's article “Can I afford college? High tuition costs squeeze out middle-class students like me.” This article discusses the financial challenges with affording college tuition for middle class students seeking a higher education. In this article it shows us how low income students have to qualify for substantial financial aid while high income students can afford it without any assistance, and middle class families might earn too much to be able to receive the financial aid but not enough to cover all their tuition. The financial squeeze as it is talked about in the article leads many middle class students into student debt, however the article also shows how Free Application for federal student aid has changed to having a sibling discount taking into consideration the number of children in the family. But families are concerned that FAFSA doesn't cover all the things that come into account in a family situation when it comes to finances like the cost of living, medical, and family obligations. This makes it hard for a middle class family to afford college without debt. I can relate to this article because I am currently in college and have a financial aid plan. When going into college I did think about how much money I'm gonna be in debt, and it scared me because it's going to take a long time to pay it off so when reading the article I do relate in some type of way.

[TT L]

Going to college is an aspiration many parents have for their kids when they grow up, but recently it is becoming harder and harder to obtain. Christine speaks on the underrepresentation of middle-class students on campus. This is because of a phenomenon called “middle-class squeeze”. “Middle-class squeeze” is described as the middle class making too much money to qualify for a significant amount of aid, but also not making enough to be able to afford to pay the tuition. The main problem is that middle-class students are excluded from the government's efforts towards low-income students. When helping those who want to attend college but do not have all the funds needed, low-income students are prioritized. She states a rise in the number of undergraduate college students in low-income families, while also reflecting how the percentage of lower middle- and middle-class students at American colleges fell from 63% in 1996 to 52% in 2016. Christine tells of her personal experience being a middle-class college student herself, which allows you to see first-hand how it affects others. I am also one of those left out and believe middle-class students should be provided with more resources. My mother makes a good amount of money when it comes to financial aid, but it does not consider how she has other things to pay for on her own. So, like many others, I am left with a significant amount of tuition to pay off. A lot of people around me as well have opted to go into the workforce or must put off their education due to not being able to afford it. Steps to ensuring all class types can go to college and afford it should be set in place. More financial aid opportunities should be presented, considering that a higher income does not equal being able to afford college more as there are other costs. As the author mentions, her family is middle class, but her parents must divide their money 7 ways for her siblings.

[puppylover123]

It is known that FAFSA doesn’t hand out financial aid or grants to people who don’t meet their threshold, yet it’s forgotten that the cost of college remains ridiculously expensive. The author of the article explained that families earning between $80,000 and $90,000 often can find themselves burdened with the highest student loan debt. Assuming, FAFSA doesn’t take into account factors like the families overall cost of living, medical expenses, or other financial obligations, which are especially important for middle class families. That income goes to these expenses and once prices started to spike due to inflation it would be of greater understanding why it is hard to maintain it all. As a result, middle class families are increasingly falling into debt, contributing to the erosion of the middle class and a rise in poverty rates. Furthermore, FAFSA fails to consider essential costs beyond tuition– such as housing, healthcare, and family responsibilities–which must be factoid in, particularly for middle class households. The financial assistance offered through federal loans is often insufficient, given the other living expenses that families must cover. I can personally relate to this issue. While my family isn’t impoverished, we certainly are not wealthy. When it was time to fill out FAFSA my mom and I knew from the start that we likely would not qualify for any financial aid. The loan options suggested to us were unhelpful, and we didn’t receive a meaningful financial package. Despite my dedication to my studies and my desire to succeed, I felt pushed to seek an academic scholarship to avoid paying full price for college. However, pursuing my goal of studying forensic science, specifically working in a lab, limited my options. Only a few schools offered the specific program I was interested in, and whether the institution was public or private, or part of the SUNY or CUNY systems, the costs were nearly identical, even with scholarships. My family simply cannot afford to cover the remaining expenses out of pocket. It is understood that many others face even more pressing financial challenges, and I do not mean to diminish anyones struggles. However, the burden of excessive college costs, for everyone, should not come at the expense of a family’s financial stability. The current system, which forces families to risk their financial well being to afford higher education, is unsustainable and unfair