Classism and the disparity between the rich and the poor has been prevalent in America for decades, but the wicked problem of discrimination against students of lower income in the American higher education system is a pressing and urgent matter that must be addressed. Often heralded as a beacon of equality, with more and more colleges adapting need-blind attitudes and offering scholarships to disadvantaged students, the American college education system is still plagued with classism. The promise of equal opportunity out of college – which is supposed to transcend prior experiences of class – is a myth. There exists a myriad of ways in which students from less affluent upbringings experience discrimination in college and, more startlingly, because of college.
Lower income families are at an immediate disadvantage when it comes to applying to and attending universities. Our poster aims to address how each stage in the college process is geared towards those with higher incomes, from the pre-college application process, to actually attending school, to graduating. We included statistics that should alarm any person and bring awareness to a topic that is usually overlooked. Our data comes from a wide variety of sources, from independent universities conducting their own surveys and research on the topic, to the US Department of Education and their statements on the issues of lower-income students and the higher education system. We designed our poster in the typical red and white color scheme that would remind one of The New School, but the data we collected is not unique to our school, but instead illustrates the bigger problem of universities in general, and how their curriculum, acceptance practices, and more contribute to the widening gap between the rich and the poor through education. We wanted to design a poster that one would see walking through the halls of The New School, but portrays a message that goes beyond just our institution.
