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 online 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.

Important Resources

A Glimpse Inside the Coffers: Endowment Spending at Wealthy Colleges and Universities

College Results Online

Tough Love: Bottom-Line Quality Standards for Colleges

Higher Education Practice Guide: Learning From High Performing and Fast-Gaining Institutions

Replenishing Opportunity in America: The 2012 Midterm Report of Public Higher Education Systems in the Access to Success Initiative

Opportunity Adrift: Our Flagship Universities Are Straying From Their Public Mission