Elite Colleges Shift Focus to Economic Diversity

In a significant shift, the nation’s most prestigious colleges are enrolling record numbers of low-income students, a move that reflects a growing priority on economic diversity in the absence of affirmative action policies.

Details

While the country’s top campuses remain predominantly wealthy, some universities have accelerated efforts to reach a wider demographic, recruiting in urban and rural areas and offering free tuition for students from low-income families. This strategy has led to friction with the federal government, which has suggested that targeting needier students may be illegal.

Princeton University Takes the Lead

At Princeton University, the freshman class has more low-income students than ever, with one in four eligible for federal Pell grants. This marks a significant leap from two decades ago, when fewer than one in ten students were eligible. Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber emphasizes the importance of intentional efforts to increase socioeconomic diversity.

Other Colleges Follow Suit

Yale, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have all set enrollment records for Pell-eligible students in the past two years. MIT’s policy of providing free tuition for families earning less than $200,000 a year has contributed to a 43% increase in low-income students over the past two years.

Amherst College Takes a Bold Approach

Amherst College in Massachusetts has made tuition free for students in the bottom 80% of U.S. earnings, and has also started covering meals and housing for those below the median income. This has led to a steady increase in low-income enrollment, reaching 1 in 4 new students this year.

Risks and Challenges

While the focus on economic diversity has led to increased low-income enrollment, it has also raised concerns about racial diversity. Many elite campuses have seen racial diversity decrease, despite the emphasis on income. Researchers argue that economic diversity is important in its own right, but that it should not come at the expense of racial diversity.
Government Scrutiny
The approach risks federal scrutiny, as the Trump administration has alleged that prioritizing students based on earnings or geography amounts to a “racial proxy” in violation of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision against affirmative action. Colleges are weighing the risks and benefits of this approach, as they navigate the complex landscape of higher education policy.

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