This is just financial gatekeeping to keep poor people out of these roles

bingo. Its a hazing ritual. The wealthy can get through easily because they dont have to worry about anything other than going through school. The poor people who can complete the process of getting higher education are then forced to stay poor to pay off student loans. They have had to work so hard to pay for their subsistence while also doing the work of studying that they are stripped of any time for politics.