> College graduates born poor earned on average only slightly more than did high school graduates born middle class. And over time, even this small “degree bonu

> College graduates born poor earned on average only slightly more than did high school graduates born middle class. And over time, even this small “degree bonus” ebbed away, at least for men: By middle age, male college graduates raised in poverty were earning less than nondegree holders born into the middle class. The scholars conclude, “Individuals from poorer backgrounds may be encountering a glass ceiling that even a bachelor’s degree does not break.” > The authors don’t speculate as to why this is the case, but it seems that students from poor backgrounds have less access to very high-income jobs in technology, finance and other fields. Perhaps people born poor demand less money for their labor because if they're making more than their parents ever did they're more content with their current level of pay.