NPR – Anya Kamenetz
“Summertime means summer jobs for many college students. But a summer job just doesn’t have the purchasing power it used to, especially when you compare it with the cost of college. Let’s take the example of a working-class student at a four-year public university who’s getting no help from Mom and Dad. In 1981-82, the average full cost to attend was $2,870. That’s for tuition, fees and room and board. The maximum Pell Grant award back then for free tuition help from the government was $1,800. That leaves our hypothetical student on the hook for just about $1,000. Add in a little pocket money, too — say $35 a week. That makes an extra $1,820 for the year on top of the $1,000 tuition shortfall.”(more)