Aaron Walton
Staff Writer

 

It is reported by the Better Business Bureau that the national unemployment is at 5.8 percent, and is slowly rising. Some experts say this is because of the educational gap within the country due to high education tuitions, thus, making it harder for students who come from lower income families to gain higher education.

The New York Times projects that students that come from lower income based families are six times more likely to drop out of college than kids that come from higher income families.

“When students from lower income families attend college, it’s like a double edge sword. Not only does this student have to worry about grades and school work, they also have to worry about helping their family out as well by working part or full time to help pay bills,” said Kerry A. Jackson, Lewis and Clark Counselor.

Students are forced to take on extra duties while balancing their school schedules which can interfere with their performance.

CBS News’ website says that four out of five students often have jobs working 15 plus hours a week to help with finances, whether it be for college tuition or to help aid their family financial situation.

“They simply have more weight to carry on them because of their financial situation and family life; unlike a student that comes from a more well off family that has a cushion of sorts and more stability to focus more on school work than worry about their family financial situation,” Jackson said.

Many students fall into this category, more than one might estimate, where students are faced with difficult decisions to analyze in regards to their education.

“My study time is usually fair, it’s only more of a hassle to get stuff done that requires Internet which I can’t afford at the moment, so some things I can’t get done comfortably at home like others, and my work hours usually interfere with my sleep for school since I get off late,” said Derick Stallman, Computer Network Security and Administration major.

Another struggle prospective students may face is feelings of inadequacy for attending college because of their financial shortcomings or because of upbringing.

“Some students or young adults that come from lower income families may also feel inadequate because of their upbringings and feel that they don’t belong in college because of their families financial situation or they just don’t know how to get the help they need to attend college,” Jackson said.

L&C offers guidance to students falling in this financial category. For more information regardless of financial background, visit Caldwell 4333 or contact Jackson through email at keajackson@lc.edu.

 

Contact Aaron at aron3111@gmail.com