Barriers to Higher Education | Vibepedia

Barriers to higher education refer to the various obstacles that prevent individuals from accessing higher education, including financial constraints, lack of access to quality primary and secondary education, societal and cultural factors, and institutional barriers. According to the [[united-nations|United Nations]], approximately 262 million children and youth are out of school, and many more are not receiving a quality education. The [[world-bank|World Bank]] estimates that the global economy loses around $1.3 trillion annually due to the lack of education and skills. In the United States, for example, the [[college-board|College Board]] reports that the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 academic year is around $21,600 for in-state students at public four-year colleges. Furthermore, a study by the [[national-center-for-education-statistics|National Center for Education Statistics]] found that in 2019, only about 66% of high school graduates in the United States enrolled in college. The [[organization-for-economic-cooperation-and-development|Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development]] (OECD) also notes that the lack of access to higher education can have significant consequences for individuals, communities, and societies as a whole, including reduced economic mobility, lower lifetime earnings, and decreased civic engagement.