Navigating the world of college tuition is a daunting experience for many families, especially those in the middle class. Recently, my partner and I completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for our daughter, and what followed was a cascade of conflicting emotions. As we read the expected family contribution (EFC) of $9,000—an amount the FAFSA suggests we should be able to pay out of pocket after federal loans—it was hard not to gasp.
Being firmly rooted in the middle class, my partner has worked full-time throughout our marriage while I’ve juggled part-time work since our children arrived. We’ve never approached six-figure incomes, yet we’ve managed to pay our bills with a little left over. Over the years, we cleared our ten-year-old vehicles and thankfully have no credit card debt. While we’ve contributed modest amounts to retirement savings, our college savings for our three kids remain virtually nonexistent. Although we paid off my partner’s student loans, I’m still grappling with significant student debt myself.
I can’t help but wish the FAFSA team could sit down with us and review our finances. I wonder where they think we can magically pull an extra $9,000 from.
Many middle-class families can relate to this situation. I certainly do; my own parents experienced similar challenges two decades ago. My mother was a stay-at-home parent who operated a daycare, while my father worked as a social worker—definitely not a high-income setup. When my mom returned to school to become a nurse at 36, we finally had a dual income, just as I was preparing for college.
Reflecting on my college choices, I realize we made some naive decisions. I chose to attend a small, private college far from home, despite being a strong student. My parents, wanting the best for me, didn’t thoroughly research the cost differences between schools. Their earlier low income left us with no college savings, and as my parents’ income rose to a solid middle-class level, our financial aid options dwindled.
I received some scholarships and federal loans, but they barely scratched the surface of the expenses for tuition, room, board, and travel across the country. This led us to take out private loans, which turned out to be another poor decision. Graduating with honors, I entered the workforce as a teacher, only to discover that the starting salary in my small Iowa town was a mere $19,000 per year. With a monthly student loan payment of $400, the math simply didn’t add up.
Fast forward twenty years, and I now find myself married with three kids, working part-time as a teacher and writer, still battling my student loans. Just as my parents began to earn more, my partner and I are experiencing the same shift. Yet, as we fill out the FAFSA for our daughter, we still feel trapped in the middle—caught in a financial aid system that doesn’t reflect the reality of our expenses.
The EFC doesn’t account for our youngest child’s necessary dental work or the unforeseen repairs needed on one of our cars. If we were worse off, we’d qualify for grants; if we were better off, we could cover tuition out of pocket. Instead, we’re left navigating a financial aid landscape that assumes we have resources we simply don’t.
Our daughter has chosen to attend a state university, thankfully avoiding exorbitant private tuition. However, even public college costs are daunting—the price of textbooks alone has been a shock, especially when a basic algebra textbook with an online code can cost $200. It’s infuriating that something so fundamental has become so pricey, especially when free resources like Khan Academy are available online.
I don’t want to sound ungrateful; I appreciate my middle-class life. My partner and I work hard, and while we can cut back and save, the financial burden of college remains overwhelming. Our daughter is determined to work herself, and she’s an accomplished violinist, so we’re hopeful for scholarships. We’ll find a way, but the process shouldn’t feel so insurmountable.
As I look at other countries that offer affordable or even free higher education, I can’t help but feel frustrated that so many talented, hardworking Americans are burdened with debt just for seeking a college degree. If you want to understand why the American middle class is dwindling, perhaps consider the financial aid system.
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In summary, the struggle for middle-class families to afford college is real and frustrating, as demonstrated by personal experiences and the burdens of student debt. The financial aid system often overlooks the everyday realities that families face, leaving many feeling lost in a system that doesn’t truly understand their needs.