Nationally, 52% of 2011 U.S. high school graduates and GED earners from low-income families enrolled immediately in a two- or four-year college, compared to 82% and 66% of their high- and middle-income counterparts, respectively (U.S. Department of Education, the Condition of Education, 2013). Once they enroll in college, low-income youth face a number of academic and non-academic obstacles, making it more difficult to succeed. Given the increasing demand for a workforce with postsecondary credentials and the rising costs of a college education, low-income youth in the U.S. are faced with significant challenges in their pursuit of living wage employment. Postsecondary completion continues to evolve as a hot bed issue nationally, at the state level, and in individual communities.
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