[kube-system]

I don’t disagree that high income makes success easier, but I don’t think degree requirements for employment or the ability to afford a prestigious school is the reason.

While the US has schools with expensive price tags, it also has respected affordable schools, and a mind-boggling amount of financial assistance available.

I would wager that the biggest indicator of success is not household income or college of attendance, but the resources and quality of secondary education. Navigating the college entry process is probably the biggest hurdle for capable students who grow up unprivileged.

As a counterexample, there are plenty of highly educated yet lower income people in the US: families with employment in the arts, humanities, academics, etc. The children in these families are not excluded from higher education — they simply have the knowledge to navigate the financial aid process.