Running head: LOW INCOME COLLEGE ATTENDANCE

Global Issues Report:

Low Income College Attendance

Lopez, Isaac

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS-1301

November
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Abstracts

The importance of this research shows us that not only does low-income affect students

here in the United States, but it also greatly affects students outside of the United States making

it a world-wide issue. The findings on the research show that most students are not well informed

to gain advantages. Although this may be saddening there are programs that help these students

be able to complete scholarship applications, grants, and FAFSA or financial aid. This research

has basically shown that any student has many opportunities to help them gain money and pay

off college without having to resort to using student loans.

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Global Issues Report

Research shows low income does not affect college attendance because of certain aspects

such as scholarships, grants, and financial aid. The problem addressed is does low-income affect

college attendance. The significance of this is that not only does low-income affect students at

UTEP but also affects student worldwide. College attendance is not affected by low income

because of factors such as scholarships, grants, financial aid, and free college.

Discussion

Low income does not affect college attendance because of factors such as free or low-

cost tuition motivate students to attend college. According to Phillips (2013), college in Sweden

is free, most students must still pay their debt such as rent, utilities, and fuel. Even though this

may be a hurdle, Sweden has seen a greater rate of graduation among its students (para. 3). As

shown in figure 1, debt among Sweden students stays relatively the same throughout the years

but the college debt among students from the United States doubled throughout the years.

However, because of benefits such as free education and affordable healthcare, it plays a factor

for citizens to pay high tax rates. As shown in figure 3, Sweden personal income tax rates

skyrocketed through the roof in the year 2018 as opposed to the lowest income tax rate in the

year 2008. This can show the effect that free education has on taxes, as the Swedish government

must provide a source of income in order to keep colleges free and open to all students.
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College attendance is not affected by low income because of factors such as financial aid

motivates students to attend college. According to the article, “A History of Financial Aid to

Student” by Fuller (2014), statistical research by the National Center for Educational Statistic

(2012) showed that around 11.5 million college students received a form of financial aid. This

research shows the dependency of financial aid as a second source of income as well as a morale

booster for any low-income student to apply and attend college (pg. 42). Although, third-world

countries such as Mexico do not have the opportunity of providing their students with financial

aid. As stated, by Slack (2017) of USA Today, the United States provides $320 million of

foreign aid to Mexico a year (para. 1). However, in 2015, the United States provided Mexico

with $338 million of foreign aid. This foreign aid was used to help Mexico improve as a country

but, none of it was used to help students pay for college, due to the unfortunate drug rings and

corruption among the Mexican government (para. 8). As a result, this hinders college attendance

for Mexico, making them travel down an unbreakable chain of corruption and poverty.

Consequently, financial aid should not be taken for granted, as it can be a tremendous help in

paying for college.

Low income is not the only factor affecting college attendance, lack of motivation also

plays a part. According, to Desimone (1999), the educational system cannot afford to teach

students from lower class or income and students of minority background as those from higher a

class or from a non-minority background (pg. 11). Based on this evidence, these inequalities can

develop into a lack of motivations into academics and develop job market disparities that can

affect a person income and earning potential (pg. 13). However, according Karabenick and

Knapp (1991), a study has showed that students who tend to struggle with academics will seek

out and ask for assistance from pother students (pg. 221). Based on this research, students will
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either ask for help as in learning strategies and/or studding tips in order to better improve

themselves and to also help others around them. As a result, students can help motivate each

other as well as be motivated to stay in school.

Scholarships help students with their tuition, which in turn does not affect attendance

because it helps with their income. As stated by Jackson (2015), more than 5,000 low-income

students were recruited from a workshop for them to be more successful in obtaining

scholarships (para 4). Additionally, as stated previously third world countries such as Mexico,

Honduras, and Chile have a difficult time providing students with financial relief in the form of

financial aid, however, according to Anand, Mizala, and Repetto (2009), even though third world

countries may not have financial aid they still provide students with scholarships (pg. 370). As

also mentioned by Anand, Mizala, and Repetto, these students must also meet the criteria to be

able to reap the benefits of these scholarships (pg. 372). Accordingly, this shows that students

with low incomes have opportunities but must be well informed to on how to receive these

benefits.

Further proof for scholarships helping students is stated by the website

CollegeScholarships.org (2013) most scholarships that are based around low-income families

providing them with scholarships that are $1,000 to $3,000 each (para. 5). However, as stated by

De La Rosa (2015), in a survey conducted with 11th and 12th graders the results showed that

college and scholarship related information may not be having the impact that it should have for

these students (pg.11). Consequently, students can benefit from these scholarships only if well

informed on how to apply for them.

Low income does not affect college attendance because, of factors such as student grants

that help ease the finical issue. According to the website, GoCollege.com (2018) grants are
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designed for students in order to avoid student loan which in turn hurts the low-income family

(para. 4). Additionally, according to Baum, McPherson, and Steele grants affects college rates

among students worldwide (pg. 10). This highlights the importance of grants and the impact they

have on student’s decision of applying to college as it grants affect the influx, rates, and patterns

of low-income students attending college (pg. 13)

Low income does not affect college attendance because colleges offer campus programs

for low-income students. According to Powell (2017), most colleges have special programs that

help and assist low-income students such as provide workshops, scholarship programs, FAFSA

applications, and job interview help (para. 6). However, in a recent study by Smith-Barrow

(2018) states that 60.9% of students in the year 2017 have completed their FAFSA application

and has shown to be growing (Para. 5). This shows, that low-income or in general any student

has a different way of obtaining in ways income in order to pay for college.

Low income does not affect college attendance because, they have mentor and professor

to help, guide, and motivate them to change their life for the better. Rollins (2018) stated, that

most low-income students tend to have a lower morale with a mentor by their side they can be

motivated to come to school every day and improve themselves (para. 4). Also, as stated by

Schademan and Thompson (2015) research, professors who serve as a cultural agent will be able

to successfully help a low-income student and first-generation students to become more

academically prepared (pg. 196). This in turn help these students with the readiness of their

degree and have a major impact in their education (pg. 198). Based on this evidence, professors

and mentors can be role models to students and give them the chance of bettering their lives.

Low income does not affect college attendance because, student build a strong circle of

friends to help motivate each other. According to Rollins (2018), students tend to shy and scared
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at the beginning of a new school year. While socializing and making friends help calm their

nerves it also helps build friendships that can help motivate one another (para. 6). Additionally,

as stated by Murray, the relation between the student and parent can also help calm the nerves of

students (pg. 376). However, the relationship between student and teacher can greatly change a

student’s attitude from school (pg. 376). This shows, that if students are surrounded themselves

with positive people, they themselves will be positive.

Low income does not affect college attendance because most schools offer free-college

programs which are essential to low-income families. According to Goldbrick and Adams

(2018), most colleges offer free-college programs. These programs depend on the type of school.

Such an example would be that colleges offer to pay for 2 years of education for any first-

generation college student (para 4). However, according to Santa Rita and Bacote (1996), a 6-

week summer bridge program providing for low-income students to help their career counseling

study skills, and intensive English reading. This shows that the programs not only help students

with their academics but also with students’ academic participation, personal and social

development that helps these students build life skills needed in the real world. Based on this

evidence, most colleges offer programs that can help these students be successful.

Conclusion

College attendance is not affected by low income because of factors such as scholarships,

grants, financial aid, and free college. The significance of this is that not only does low-income

affect students at UTEP but also affects students worldwide. The problem addressed is- does
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low-income affect college attendance. Research shows low income does not, in fact, affect

college attendance because of certain aspects such as scholarships, grants, and financial aid.
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References

Anand, P., Mizala, A., & Repetto, A. (2009). Using school scholarships to estimate the effect of

private education on the academic achievement of low-income students in Chile

doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2008.03.005

Desimone, L. (1999). Linking parent involvement with student achievement: Do race and

income matter? The Journal of Educational Research, 93(1), 11-30.

doi:10.1080/00220679909597625

Fuller, B. M. (2014). A history of financial aid to students.44(1), 42-68.

GoCollege. (2017). Why college grants make sense or all student. Retrieved from

http://www.gocollege.com/financial-aid/college-grants/

Goldrick-Rab, S., & Miller-Adams, M. (2018). Don’t dismiss the value of free-college programs.

they do help low-income students. Retrieved from

https://www.chronicle.com/article/Don-t-Dismiss-the-Value-of/244468

Mundell, D. S. (2008). What do we know about the impact of grants to college students? The

Effectiveness of Student Aid Policies: What the Research Tells Us, 9-38.

Murray, C. (2009). Parent and teacher relationships as predictors of school engagement and

functioning among low-income urban youth. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 29(3),

376-404. doi:10.1177/0272431608322940

Pérez-Roa, L. (2018). From “good credit” to “bad debt”: Comparative reflections on the student

debt experience of young professionals in Santiago, Chile, and Montreal, Canada.

Economic Anthropology, 0(0) doi:10.1002/sea2.12137

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Powell, F. (2017). Colleges offer campus programs for low-income students. Retrieved from

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2017-12-

11/colleges-offer-programs-to-assist-low-income-students

Rosa, M. L. D. L. (2006). Is opportunity knocking? Low-income students’ perceptions of college

and financial aid. American Behavioral Scientist, 49(12), 1670-1686.

doi:10.1177/0002764206289139

Rollins, F. (2018). College guide for low income students. Retrieved from

https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/low-income-students/

Santa Rita, E., & Bacote, J. B. (1996). The benefits of college discovery pre-freshman summer

program for minority and low-income students. Retrieved from

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED394536

Schademan, A. R., & Thompson, M. R. (2016). Are college faculty and first-generation, low-

income students ready for each other? Journal of College Student Retention: Research,

Theory & Practice, 18(2), 194-216. doi:10.1177/1521025115584748

Schademan, A. R., & Thompson, M. R. (2016). Are college faculty and first-generation, low-

income students ready for each other? Journal of College Student Retention: Research,

Theory & Practice, 18(2), 194-216. doi:10.1177/1521025115584748

Slack, D. (2017). U.S. provides aid worth $320 million a year to Mexico; experts say yanking it

could hurt. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/26/us-

aid-320-million-mexico-wall-trump-specialists-backfire/97103024/

Smith-Barrow, D. (2018). Are too few college students asking for federal aid? Retrieved from

https://hechingerreport.org/are-too-few-college-students-asking-for-federal-aid/
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Karabenick, S. A., & Knapp, J. R. (1991). Relationship of academic help seeking to the use of

learning strategies and other instrumental achievement behavior in college students.

Journal of Educational Psychology, 83(2), 221-230. Retrieved from

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.83.2.221
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Figures

Figure 1. Debt comparison among the average Swedish and US students.

Copyright 2013 Quartz.

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Figure 2. Sweden Personal Income tax Rate (2008-2018)

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