Unfortunately, the growth in merit scholarships has occurred while the costs of attending college continue to rise. Over the past decade, college prices have risen nearly 40 percent. These rising prices make it even more difficult for low-income students to enter higher education. Yet, Georgia, Florida, Michigan and other states have responded to these concerns by establishing merit scholarship programs that use award criteria and funding mechanisms that direct scarce state dollars away from students with the greatest need and toward those from higher-income families. Merit aid programs have not helped to equalize the college opportunity gaps between Blacks and Whites. Other states considering establishing merit programs should be warned against their potentially discriminatory effects against low-income African American students.
— Kenneth E. Redd is director of research and policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid
Administrators.
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