Writer: Eleana Teran
2 min read November 2022— Low-income and minority students currently face systemic barriers to higher education access and post-graduate success, and while these disparities are not new, reports show they are widening fast.
In a report published earlier this year by the Pell Institute and PennAHEAD, the inequities within higher education were highlighted. “Rising inequality of income and wealth in the United States, and the increasing cost of higher education, threaten college access and students’ career pathways. Too many college students, especially students of color, struggle with high student debt and limited family resources that must be addressed through asset-based solutions,” Terry Vaughan III, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and the Director of The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunities in Higher Education at the Council for Opportunity in Education stated in the report.
There are distinct differences when analyzing the demographics of those who enroll in postsecondary education. In 2020, 79% of high school graduates ages 18-24 from the highest household income quartile enrolled in postsecondary programs, compared with 48% in the lowest quartile. Similarly, graduation rates differed by socioeconomic status. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, only 14% of students of low socioeconomic status (SES) attained a bachelor’s or higher degree within eight years of high school completion, compared to 29% of students of middle SES and 60% of high-SES students.
Recent data also shows that four years after graduating, 48% of Black students owe an average of 12.5% more than they borrowed. Contrastingly, in that same time period 83% of White students owe 12% less than they borrowed. Even 10 years after obtaining a bachelor’s degree, 37% of Black graduates reported a negative net worth, nearly twice the average of their white peers.
Leaders across Western PA understand the barriers students face in order to access higher education. In an interview with Invest:, Alicia Harvey-Smith, president of Pittsburgh Technical College, discussed the institution’s focus on affordability and how they provide solutions to those wishing to continue their education.
“We want to make our values clear, and affordability is one of our key focus points. Stackable credentials allow students to take building blocks and stack them on top of each other. We are telling students that they matter and this makes it more valuable for them by creating off-ramps. Students can get a certification and go straight to work, or they can transfer to another partner,” said Harvey-Smith.
Penn State Fayette Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Charles Patrick also highlighted the importance of targeting underrepresented groups both in the student population and faculty. “We have to be able to look at our processes carefully and venture into those processes in a way that concretely moves us toward a more diverse student and employee population,” he told Invest:.
However, leaders understand that representation is only the first step of many. For Harvey-Smith, access must be met with a welcoming environment to all. “We do that by educating our faculty and staff about what that means. This includes cultural competence, which is about understanding our students and their circumstances to create a responsive learning environment. We need to do this as a learning institution because it is our responsibility and a responsibility that all institutions should prioritize as well,” said Harvey-Smith.
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