Federal Policies Hold Potential to Increase Low-Income Student Enrollment at Selective Institutions

Title: Federal Policies for Increasing Socioeconomic Diversity at Selective Colleges and Universities

Source: Ithaka S+R

Authors: Elizabeth Davidson Pisacreta, Emily Schwartz, Catharine Bond Hill, Martin Kurzweil

A new brief from Ithaka S+R draws attention to the ways federal policies can expand access to selective postsecondary institutions for lower-income students. These suggestions include:

• An expectation that colleges participating in the Federal Student Aid program enroll at least 15 percent Pell-eligible students, with an incremental endowment tax credit offered to those serving higher shares
• A limited antitrust exemption
• Increased data collection and reporting for improved transparency and accountability

The authors applaud the federal government’s role in supporting access and affordability for enrollees at broad-access institutions, while asserting a need to simultaneously incentivize more avenues for low-income students at well-resourced colleges.

Click here to read the article.

—Anna Marie Ramos