Families earning $200,000 a year are increasingly being told they qualify for significant college financial aid. That’s both a sign of progress in expanding access — and a startling reflection of just how expensive higher education has become.
Corey Alderdice, a national voice on talent and transformation, explores the growing “messy middle” of paying for college: families who make too much to feel poor, but not enough for $75,000-a-year tuition bills to feel comfortable or sustainable. The episode examines how rising college costs, changing financial aid policies, and prestige-driven admissions culture are reshaping the emotional and financial realities of higher education for middle and upper-middle-income families.
The conversation also offers practical guidance for students and parents navigating these decisions, including early financial transparency, distinguishing admissibility from affordability, evaluating long-term return on investment, and recognizing that preserving flexibility and financial stability may ultimately create more opportunity than chasing prestige alone.
For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.
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