Many people assume that colleges spend more money on the poor and middle class students since rich students are able to pay for college expenses without help from the government or school. However, that is not the case: colleges are actually spending more money on affluent students and less on poor students.

According to CBS News MoneyWatch, federal data shows that states, colleges and universities have been providing less and less money to poorer students for years, and schools are giving more money to affluent students.

There has been an increase in merit aid, which is aid provided to students no matter what their financial need is, to students at state universities and private institutions. Meanwhile, public institutions are supplying less grants to lower-income students.

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