accessible and affordable

[Kacy.H]

Hello, everyone? Why are the two adjectives used together? If higher education is affordable, then it is accessible. I don't understand 'accessible'. Does it mean building more universities? Many thanks!

Santorum "ensuring the [sic] every Pennsylvanian has access to higher education," including providing "loans, grants, and tax incentives to make higher education more accessible and affordable". (the Economist)

 

[Myridon]

Just because you can afford something, that doesn't mean you can access it and vice versa.
If I'm selling cars for $1 on top of Mount Everest, they are affordable but not accessible.
The Rolls Royce dealership is across the street from my office, but I can't afford to buy one.

 

[Kacy.H]

Just because you can afford something, that doesn't mean you can access it and vice versa.
If I'm selling cars for $1 on top of Mount Everest, they are affordable but not accessible.
The Rolls Royce dealership is across the street from my office, but I can't afford to buy one.

Thank you, @Myridon. I understand your examples. But universities are different? Please tell directly what 'accessible' means in the context of higher education. Does it mean building more universities?

 

[lingobingo]

The accessibility of higher education (or anything else) means the fact that, and/or the extent to which, it is available. That is, whether or not people can access/secure/procure/acquire/obtain it, by whatever means apply. In the case of higher education, you need both to access it, by being offered a place at a university, and to afford it, by having the funds to pay for your course of study.

 

[Myridon]

Night classes and online classes would be other ways to make higher education more accessible. If there are no night classes or online classes, the university is not accessible to many people who need to work.