For years, students are told that college is the key to success and the end goal of high school. But for many families, that key comes with a price tag they simply can’t pay. It is almost the end of March, meaning that the season of college decisions is coming to a close soon. As students are looking at where they were accepted, many at Lincoln-Sudbury aren’t just asking where they’ll get in—they’re asking whether they can afford to go at all. While many students wait excitedly to see if they got accepted to their dream school, a haunting thought stays in their minds. What is the point of getting into your dream college if you can’t afford to attend? 

After adjusting for inflation, the average tuition for both private and public universities has essentially doubled in the last thirty years, making it increasingly difficult for students to attend college. Looking specifically at the LSRHS community, which is generally considered a privileged area, many assume that the majority of the population is able to pay for secondary education. However, while most families do not qualify for financial aid, they still do not have the ability to pay for college, especially for multiple children, without taking out loans. Scholarships are a good option, but it is not guaranteed money, and neither is merit. Many students also do not know about the many scholarships available, so sometimes they are not accessible to everyone, especially if someone is the first to attend university in their family or even the first sibling to attend. The college process is hard enough, but it is made even more difficult when students do not know the system well or how to navigate it. Much of the knowledge about scholarships and merit comes from previous experience or is passed down from parents or siblings, and if a family doesn’t know about it, they might never be able to access that vital information. 

While tuition is getting higher, acceptance rates are going down. Many students want to apply Early Decision to their top school choice to give themselves a better chance at getting in, but that means that they most likely will not receive any merit scholarships. Applying Early Decision immediately demonstrates to the school that they already have you. You are committing to the school, and therefore committing to the cost. This is just another example of how the education system is truly tailored to those with privilege. Some considerably “prestigious” schools do give substantial scholarships and aid, but those universities are so selective that many do not receive that opportunity. 

Universities also do not take into account students who may live in multiple households. If someone has parents who are divorced, their parents are likely paying for two mortgages, two cars, and double the expenses. This makes tuition even more difficult to pay for, and it is rarely talked about. 

The general feeling among juniors when asked about college affordability, and how the cost of university affects their college search, is that price is a significant and determining factor. Many apply to state schools, where tuition is significantly reduced from private institutions. We compared two local New England schools  – one state and one private, and found a $30,000 annual tuition difference. Many students won’t bother to spend the application fee to apply to colleges that cost over $90,000 annually; what is the rate of return on that kind of an investment? Competitive students with excellent resumes can attend state school honors programs for a fraction of the cost and attend smaller classes, access priority class registration, and often enjoy priority housing in newer dorms with amenities like larger spaces and air conditioning. This option can offer a significant benefit to students who have excelled in high school and won’t send students and their parents into decades of debt.

Now we ask an important question for LS students. Are there enough resources for students to learn about financial aid opportunities and scholarships?  As LS students, we see the benefit of receiving this information as early as 8th grade, presented to both students and parents. We need more information about it, and we need it sooner. Junior and senior seminars are important and helpful, but instead of mainly focusing on how to get into college, there needs to be a focus on how to afford college. It may be a difficult and sometimes awkward situation, but as a community, we need to remove the stigma around college affordability and the struggles behind it. Many more students and families battle with it than you may think, and talking about it can only bring more opportunities and knowledge.