Over the past 20 years, the cost of education has skyrocketed in the United States. Public universities have taken the largest hit, with the average cost of in-state tuition rising 237%. While college continues to be increasingly cost-prohibitive for the average American, a report by New America found another trend negatively affecting social mobility: the percentage of low-income students attending public universities is on the decline.
According to the report, since the late ‘90s, nearly two-thirds of public universities have reduced their share of students enrolled from families earning less than $37,000 a year, while a near identical share of these schools has seen an increase in students from families that make over $110,000 a year. According to New America, among the 381 universities studied, the share of low-income students has been reduced an average of 4.6% per school.
“As states have been cutting higher education budgets and with the ever-growing emphasis on prestige and rankings, these schools are becoming much more likely to go after wealthy students,” a senior policy analyst at New America told The Washington Post. The study illustrates an alarming trend for social mobility in America. According to The Washington Post, “Eight of the 10 colleges with the highest percentage of poor students landing in the upper middle class later in life are state schools.”
[quote position="left" is_quote="true"]As states have been cutting higher education budgets … these schools are becoming much more likely to go after wealthy students.[/quote]
The report used Stony Brook University in New York to show the importance that public universities play in promoting social mobility for low-income students. “A little more than half of the lowest-income [Stony Brook] students — coming from families earning less than $20,000 yearly — who attended the school in the late 1990s made it into the top 20 percent [of earners] (with annual salaries of at least $110,000) by their mid-30s. And nearly 8 in 10 of these students reached at least the middle class.”
Unfortunately, like many of the other schools studied, Stony Brook has seen a decrease in low-income student enrollment. In the late ‘90s, low-income students made up more than a third of the school; they now make up just a quarter.
The New America study should be a wake-up call to anyone who values equality in American life. Education is crucial to providing a level playing field for everyone, so for the country to thrive as a whole, this opportunity must be made available to those on all rungs of the socioeconomic ladder.
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This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.