Marquette University accused of pushing lower-income families toward risky loans

[Macallan 18]

https://www.wpr.org/news/marquette-university-accused-push-lower-income-families-risky-loans-student-debt

Marquette was one of 41 colleges named in a report by the progressive think tank New America, which alleges the schools encourage low-income families to take out Parent PLUS loans while at the same time offering financial aid to upper-income students.

Peter Granville, a fellow at the Century Foundation who studies college affordability, said the study sheds light on the important issue of how families pay for college and how colleges decide who gets financial help.

"This report argues that Marquette could have given families more grant aid, which would reduce their need for Parent PLUS loans. But the school didn't," Granville said. "One-third of Marquette Parent PLUS recipients also received the Pell Grant, which means their incomes are lower than average."

[#UnleashJosh]

Good old pell grant. Went to state school for free. Enjoy those loans losers!

[Skatastrophy]

Yeah poor people get crappy loan terms. That's how capitalism works, it's cheap and easy to get money if you don't need it. 

[rocky_warrior]

My parents took out a PLUS loan back in the day.  We're all good.  Thanks!

* it's only risky if your children are dumb.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

The State of Connecticut offers for state residents only what is essentially Parent Plus leans but the rates are significantly lower. 

[muwarrior69]

My parents took out a PLUS loan back in the day.  We're all good.  Thanks!

* it's only risky if your children are dumb.

My parents did not have to take out any loans and paid full tuition, books, and Room and Board because Marquette was affordable when I attended. My dad was an electrician at GM and my mom was a factory worker at J&J, a typical middle class blue collar family.

[The Sultan]

My parents did not have to take out any loans and paid full tuition, books, and Room and Board because Marquette was affordable when I attended. My dad was an electrician at GM and my mom was a factory worker at J&J, a typical middle class blue collar family.

It's not 1969 any longer.

[rocky_warrior]

My parents did not have to take out any loans and paid full tuition, books, and Room and Board because Marquette was affordable when I attended. My dad was an electrician at GM and my mom was a factory worker at J&J, a typical middle class blue collar family.

Both your parents had good paying jobs so you didn't have to take on debt for your college education!? 

Well done chap!

[muwarrior69]

It's not 1969 any longer.

No kidding and that is a bad thing? 

[muwarrior69]

Both your parents had good paying jobs so you didn't have to take on debt for your college education!? 

Well done chap!

...and how many parents like mine can pay full freight for a Marquette education today? The University did not have to push my parents into taking a risky loan because it was affordable for a middle class family and very little to do with "well paying jobs". Many of my classmates had parents who were Lawyers and Doctors and others with advanced degrees who earned far more than mine, yet we all paid the same tuition if not on some scholarship. Yes it is not the 1960s anymore but I am sure when it comes to college affordability many parents to day wish it was.

[rocky_warrior]

...and how many parents like mine can pay full freight for a Marquette education today?

That's a great question!  When gathering your data, I suggest you compare percentages from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s!

[#UnleashJosh]

...and how many parents like mine can pay full freight for a Marquette education today? The University did not have to push my parents into taking a risky loan because it was affordable for a middle class family and very little to do with "well paying jobs". Many of my classmates had parents who were Lawyers and Doctors and others with advanced degrees who earned far more than mine, yet we all paid the same tuition if not on some scholarship. Yes it is not the 1960s anymore but I am sure when it comes to college affordability many parents to day wish it was.

Muwarrior just now finding out college has become a scam in the past 30 years?

[The Sultan]

Muwarrior just now finding out college has become a scam in the past 30 years?

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/09/education-and-income.html

[BM1090]

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/09/education-and-income.html

It can have a positive impact on earnings and still be a scam/deeply flawed.

[The Sultan]

It can have a positive impact on earnings and still be a scam/deeply flawed.

It's clearly not a scam overall. Some colleges can be scams.

But yes, there are deep flaws throughout our educational system.

[#UnleashJosh]

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/09/education-and-income.html

Yes, this has zero to do with why college is a scam now.

Thanks though.

[#UnleashJosh]

It's clearly not a scam overall. Some colleges can be scams.

But yes, there are deep flaws throughout our educational system.

Yup, totally not a scam. Books that cost $400 each, with a new version out every year, that you need, so no 2nd hand.

40k Tuition per year. But you can take out a loan that you'll be paying off for the next 30 years. At 18, you make that decision.

Room and board exploded, another loan for that.

Oh and BTW, https://educationdata.org/college-enrollment-statistics Everyone now GOES to college. Around 2012, it was basically just another four years of high school, now grad school is the real college. Oh btw, another 20k per year...

Just a bit out of touch here sultan. But that doesn't shock anyone.