During a quiet summer, Jeff Kahlden learned that a student he advised at a rural high school near Fort Worth, Texas was in distress.
The student’s grandmother, his primary guardian, had a stroke, leaving him homeless.
Kahlden, then counseling low-income students as part of Upward Bound, a federally funded TRIO program, took the student into his home, aiding him through high school and into college.
The team ensured he took necessary courses and managed daunting college paperwork, supported by other TRIO initiatives.
Without TRIO, Kahlden, now director of grant management at Dallas College, believes many low-income students wouldn’t pursue college opportunities.
However, the Trump administration scrutinizes TRIO, cutting funds for some colleges and proposing to eliminate it, branding it part of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Amid rising income inequality, advocates worry these changes will further challenge lower-income Americans’ college aspirations.
Financial aid is shifting to middle- and upper-income families, while states face budget constraints from federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, affecting higher education funding.
Julie Wollman of the University of Pennsylvania warns of reduced aid and essential support program cuts.
The administration plans to cut nearly $1.6 billion from TRIO and GEAR UP, programs aiding low-income students’ college readiness.
Participants in TRIO are more likely to graduate college than non-participants, though some bipartisan congressional members oppose ending it.
The administration’s budget labels TRIO “a relic of the past,” claiming college access is no longer a major barrier for low-income students.
In reality, low-income college enrollment is declining, with only 32 percent of students receiving federal Pell Grants in 2022-23, down from 41 percent in 2011.
Additional federal funding for low-income student initiatives faces challenges as the Justice Department deems some unconstitutional for specific racial enrollment criteria, impacting grants for low-income Black students.
The administration aims to eliminate the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, affecting nearly 20 percent of college students who are parents, reducing daycare support and elevating dropout risks.
The proposed budget also cuts the $1 billion work-study program, critical for about 600,000 students, calling it a “handout to woke universities.”
Amid these challenges, low-income K-12 students face diminishing college opportunities without assistance, as reported by The Century Foundation.
College costs consume nearly 90 percent of low-income families’ earnings, while upper-income families spend only 15 percent, a disparity that has doubled in two decades.
Tuition is rising again, with fewer public universities and community colleges remaining affordable for average families, according to NCAN.
NCAN warns of worsening conditions as federal cuts to higher education and Medicaid strain state budgets, pushing education out of reach.
The Pell Institute reports a stark contrast in college attendance between income brackets, amplifying concerns about wealth-based educational access.
Despite challenges, there are encouraging signs: FAFSA completions are up, and more low-income students are applying to college via the Common Application.
Financial aid remains crucial for these prospects, yet higher education institutions increasingly favor higher-income families to secure revenue.
The Century Foundation reveals that 56 percent of affluent families receive excessive financial aid, leaving lower-income students underfunded.
With enrollment declining, colleges face financial strains, influencing admissions strategies.
Some elite institutions are expanding early decision admissions, favoring wealthier applicants who can commit without financial aid certainty.
Selective colleges admitting more students via early decision risk limiting opportunities for lower-income applicants, affecting their long-term prospects.
James Murphy of Class Action cautions that rising political and financial pressures may increase early decision rates, disadvantaging low- and middle-income students.
Flagship public universities like the University of Michigan have adopted early decision, and the University of Virginia reinstated it, potentially impacting qualified low-income students.
New federal loan limits for graduate students could disproportionately affect those from disadvantaged backgrounds, limiting access to advanced education.
Jeff Kahlden remains connected with TRIO-assisted students, including graduates from prestigious universities, underscoring the program’s impact.
One former student, now a math teacher, exemplifies resilience, teaching “grit” to his students.
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