I would put a good chunk of the blame on the bureaucratic nature of most universities. I've been in a position where I had to work directly with administrative figures, and most of them have conflicting views on everything, and it's hard to get a straight answer from two people within the same department. There is just so much going on, both that's visible and essentially "backdoor" politics and dealing that it would make your head spin. It's possible to move out of poverty and all of that, but very difficult.
It's unbelievable. I know all the ins and outs of the politics universities now, the levels of administration, the correct leverage to put on different levels, who is best to threaten with what, how to move behind certain parts of the bureaucracy. Ironically, I became so good at it, I now work three jobs at the university that screwed me most, jobs that were originally student jobs, but I found ways to work around the system. They wouldn't help me when I wanted to give them a portion of my money, so they now give me their money instead. I'm quite liked within the administration now, and something of a legendary exception from the bureaucratic failures.