Education is an important factor in the development of an individual to adapt to the various systems of the progressing world. Higher education in the 21st century is important to the success of any society, especially in modern America. It is an asset in the context of the global economy because it develops the workforce and talent that will ultimately drive social, economic, political and cultural change in a nation and globally. As important as it is, it faces political, economic, cultural and social challenges in its establishment. The opportunity to obtain a higher education is a privilege for any individual, given the national and global challenges that influence this level of education. Higher education is expensive to obtain especially in developed countries like the United States. Higher tuition fees have pushed students who aspire to further their education to seek scholarships and loans. Grants and loans help students take the next step but tie them financially to the source of the money. It would be more beneficial and more of a right if the higher education system in the United States was accessible, but for those who can get it, it is a privilege for them. Some students finance their higher education through part-time work or may take time out of university to work and raise enough money for tuition (Mullins and Martyn p 45). The elusive nature of this level of education means that it ceases to be a right for students who seek it because it is not readily available to them. In the United States there are no mandatory grants to help students finance their studies or support them while in school (Mullins and Martyn p 46). The scholarships are granted upon application received from the students but they accumulate... middle of paper... they are supposed to enjoy a right freely and without limitations. Higher education is a privilege for the American student because it comes with limitations in enjoying it if it were a right because not all American students can enjoy it. It is therefore a privilege for the American student to enter higher education. Works Cited Bozick, Robert. “Employment Opportunities, Economic Resources, and Postsecondary Destinations of American Youth*.” Demography 46.3 (2009): 493-512. Huber, Walter, Heng Kang, and John Wellendorf. “The Impact of China's Higher Education System on Graduates' Job Prospects.” Journal of US-China Public Administration 8.9 (2011): 978-989. Mullins, Laurie and Roberts Martyn. “Assessment strategies: some comparisons between the UK and US higher education systems.” The international journal of education management 10.4 (2000): 44-4.