Education: The 'Great Equalizer' in Society

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Education is seen as the foundation of innovation and development of society. The purpose of education is to give everyone equal opportunity to advance and prosper regardless of initial economic status hence the commonly used appellation, the ‘Great Equalizer’. In order to evaluate education’s role as the ‘Great Equalizer’, we must take account of evidence regarding family income, public resources, and the possibility of social mobility through college education. The educational experience of students varies tremendously as a result of family income, driving the disparity in achievement and available resources. Furthermore, limited access to public resources and college opportunities pose a threat to one’s social mobility and success in society. …show more content…

The value of a college education has never been more apparent with 70 percent with the workforce having at least an associate’s degree. To emphasize the worth of a college education, the “net cost of college is a negative $500,000” (Leonhardt 2014), which means that, over a lifetime, one gains a half million dollars if they attended college. This demonstrates how essential education is for the social mobility of the lower class. “[W]ithout a college degree a child born into a family in the lowest quintile has a 45 percent chance of remaining in that quintile as an adult and only a 5 percent chance of moving into the highest quintile. On the other hand, children born into the lowest quintile who do earn a college degree have only a 16 percent chance of remaining in the lowest quintile and a 19 percent chance of breaking into the top quintile” (Greenstone 2013). Essentially, a college degree increases the likelihood of a lower class member to move up the social ladder but the lack of a degree may prevent this mobility. The unequal education influenced by family income and public school funding may prevent low-income students from attending college, restricting their potential economic

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