Study shows that middle class parents are paying the least for college

[mom2collegekids]

The middle class is faring better than both higher and lower income families in reducing out-of-pocket college spending. For families earning $35,000 to $100,000 per year, student and parent contributions add up to about $10,000, while scholarships cover 31 percent of the total.

In contrast, households making more than $100,000 are paying just over $13,000 and scholarships cover 23 percent.

Those making less than $35,000 pay the most, with parents and students contributing $14,500. Scholarships cover 27 percent of the cost.

I’m wondering what the numbers would be if they weren’t including LOW INCOME families in with “middle class”. Who thinks that a family earning $35k per year is middle class??? Certainly not me! Lol. Aren’t the $35k per year families getting large Pell Grants? I’m thinking that middle class starts around $50k.

So, I wonder how those numbers change once you remove all those who receive Pell Grants in that middle class group?

I also doubt that many families earning less than $35k per year are contributing $14,500 per year. That would only be the case where people are lying on FAFSA, have ignored assets, have grands who pay, or have a NCP that’s doing the real paying.

In reality, many of our low income and middle income student commute to their local community college or state school where their expenses are really about $2k-15k per year (really much less once aid/loans are applied. )