Explore How Income Influences Attendance at 139 Top Colleges

"Explore How Income Influences Attendance at 139 Top Colleges" Publication: The New York Times Date: September 11, 2023
The New York Times September 11, 2023

If you're navigating the world of college admissions, you've likely encountered the tricky interplay between family income and college prospects. A recent New York Times article, "Explore How Income Influences Attendance at 139 Top Colleges" (September 11, 2023), sheds light on this exact issue with some compelling data. According to the article, "At many selective private colleges, being very rich is a door to entry," with students from the top 1 percent attending at much higher rates than equally qualified peers from lower-income brackets.

The data, derived from a partnership between college records and federal income data, shows that the odds are unevenly stacked. For instance, at Ivy League and elite private colleges, over half the student body comes from the upper echelon of earners—the top 20 percent. The research, led by Opportunity Insights, reveals that "at Harvard, those from the top 1 percent attended at 1.5 times the rate of a typical student with that score."

In contrast, flagship public colleges like the University of California, Los Angeles, show a more balanced picture, with no significant attendance bias towards the wealthy for in-state students. The article points out, "Public universities have different mandates — to educate a certain number of students from their state — and different admissions processes."

The article also touches on the various factors contributing to this income-related admissions skew, including legacy admissions, athlete recruitment, and a preference for students from well-known private high schools. The disparities, however, are not as pronounced in public universities, which often have mandates to serve their state's student population more broadly.

For those of us in the college admissions and counseling field, this article is a stark reminder of the socioeconomic barriers that still exist within the realm of higher education. It's a call to action to support our students from all backgrounds, understanding that, as the article states, "The schools that educate the vast majority of students are pretty fair in who gets in." As we guide students through their college journey, let's keep in mind the significant role public universities play in providing equitable education opportunities, regardless of family income.