Does college grant program actually hurt some middle class students?

As an Army veteran, I am married and working full time like many other people. I am also attending a community college and have used up my GI Bill. I would like to become an architect, and the only accredited school that is near-by is Wash-U. At their rate of $49,000, it’s almost twice what my wife and I make. Our parents don’t make $60,000 a year either. So, will it hurt you people that I view as “rich”? Maybe, if you don’t learn how to use your money wisely. Will these grants help someone like me, along with other grants and scholarships. I sure hope so. And perhaps many of the students using this grant would contribute money back to the school once they are established for others to use. I know i would.

I am all for helping anyone who needs them get grants. But, as a middle-class working parent, I hope that won’t hurt mine or my child’s chance of getting assistance, so improve our earning power and contribute back.
If I earn 40,000 a year, and my husband earns 35,000 a year and if we have two or three children. ‘Wise’ use of our money or not, I certainly don’t consider that rich.
And, I also don’t consider 49,000 a year for education to be attainable for us.
Those loans we’ll get will reduce our spending power and our contribution to the economy for many years down the road.

I can’t complain too much about any assistance programs though, I worked three jobs and paid cash for the classes I needed to get my Associate’s degree, and now I’m working for a good employer assisting me in getting my Bachelor’s.
As for why I paid cash, I couldn’t even fill out any applications for aid or loans (under age 22?) without my parents’ information, although I wasn’t living at home, and my mother and her new husband weren’t contributing to my education or living expenses.

Good luck to all continuing their educations and the many, many hurdles.

And Keith, I’ve read that Engineers are in steady demand, too. Thanks for your service, it’s appreciated.

I agree with Keith 100%. This grant program will help more middle-to-low income people than it will harm those making over $60K. Anyone, at any income level, can make smart choices regarding money. Nobody should be denied an education just because they can’t afford the price tag that comes with an education, and I feel that those who do benefit from this program will be far more likely to be generous donors to their alma mater. They will remember the help they got, and be more likely to pay it forward and help future generations.

I think the grant program is a fantastic idea, and I hope that many people are able to take full advantage and use it to better their own stations in life.

as a Wash U alum (ass is my spouse), we would have no debt from our undergraduate days and would be far better prepared for our kids college educations (as we could put all the money we are spending on OUR student loans into accounts for their college education).

As an alumni, I am proud that my university continues to strive to make itself affordable to other students whom were like me, first generation college student from a working class family.