Kate Lionel

Instructor Eileen Morris

Pols 155 Section 27
01 February 2018
Research Project: Week 2

According to an article found on the Pew Research Center’s website titled, “Chart of the
week: How Americans Pay For College,” by Drew Desilver, one of the biggest financial
challenges American families face is the funding of a college education. In this article Desilver
discloses a bar graph, researched by the student loan company, by the name of Sallie Mae. The
bar graph, shown below, illustrates how families for the last couple of years have paid for the
fees of a college education. To break it down, from 2008 to 2018 it is seen that not only has the
amount of money students borrowed increased from $2,721 to $3,916, but the the percentage of
students turning to financial aid has as well. For Instance, in 2008 14% of students relied on the
help of loans, while in 2013 the percentage rose another 4% to 18%. In addition, the percent of
people turning to scholarships and grants increased likewise 25% in 2008 to 30% in 2013.
Looking closer at the graph you can see as the percent of students relying on the help of loans
became greater the percentage of students receiving help from their parents income not only
dropped but the amount did with it. In 2008, 36% of students used their parents income towards
their college tuition with an amount of about $ 6,997, however, this percentage dropped to 27%
in 2013 totaling of about $5,727.