Report finds low-income enrollment decreasing at public colleges- Autumn A. Arnett, Education Dive

A new report from NewAmerica found public colleges are losing ground on access — nearly 60% of public institutions admitted an average of 4.6% fewer students from the lowest income households, while nearly 66% admitted an average of 5.4% of students from households in the top income quintile between 1999 and 2013. Roughly two-thirds of the flagship campuses represented in the survey boast a wealthier student population that they enrolled 20 years ago, however a shrinking middle class since the turn of the century has meant both significantly more low income and upper income households in the U.S. An increasing dependence on tuition and plummeting public support for higher education seem to work together to form a perfect storm for institutions that need to cover operational costs, even if that comes at the expense of admitting more marginalized students. https://www.educationdive.com/news/report-finds-low-income-enrollment-decreasing-at-public-colleges/508352/