Issue

College enrollment has been on the rise for the past 40 years, but disparities in access remain — especially for African American, Latino, and Native students, as well as those from low-income families.

Students of color and low-income students are less likely to enroll in college, and when they do, they are more likely to attend for-profit or community colleges that have lower graduation rates. Even after 40-plus years of gains, fewer students from low-income families go to college today than higher income students did in the mid-1970s.

To close these gaps and to give all students equitable access to high-quality postsecondary opportunities, our higher education policy and practice team:

  • Provides College Results Online, a free tool for students and parents, school counselors, researchers, and policymakers to search and compare colleges based on performance;
  • Advocates for colleges and universities to promote equity by increasing socioeconomic and racial diversity on campus;
  • Develops and promotes policy proposals to improve college access for low-income students and students of color; and
  • Works with state universities and university systems to cut access gaps for low-income students and students of color.

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