Pursuing post-secondary education is often thought of as a pathway to tremendous economic success, yet many students, such as low-income, first-generation students, and students of color, are still underrepresented in higher education. Despite receiving more attention than in the past, the socioeconomic gap in higher education has remained the same. The ever-rising cost of higher education, declining government financial aid, and widening income disparities have put college out of reach to underrepresented, underserved students. It is vital to identify strategies to close the equity gap and improve college access for underrepresented underserved students. In this article, the author explores the issue of affordability that has created persistent gaps in college access for low-income students, first-generation students, and students of color. The concluding part of this paper examined ways to mitigate the inequitable gaps in college access and the significance of bridging those gaps for low-income students, first-generation students, and students of color.
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