If higher tuition does restrict access to public institutions by those most dependent upon them, minority and lower income students may have no other options for obtaining a college degree. In addition, a baccalaureate education is critical to earning a decent living today. The difference is even greater for blacks. Restricting access to higher education may serve to exacerbate this gap in earnings. Financial aid programs administered by federal and state governments, as well as institutions, have existed to equalize educational opportunity for underrepresented groups.
Financial aid acts as a price discount, lowering the net tuition paid by recipients.
When addressing the relationship between tuition and access to higher education, then, it is critical also to examine the impact of financial aid on that relationship. I propose to examine and analyze the literature related to these relationships. Click here for the paper.