Regardless of the type of institution, higher education correlates with upward mobility. Ivy-Plus colleges have the best outcomes with 60% of students in the bottom fifth reaching the top fifth. Additionally, Ivy-Pus colleges move 13% of students in the bottom fifth to the top 1%.
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However, there are plenty of less-selective, mid-tier colleges, that show similar trends of upward mobility for low- and middle-income children without the high tuition costs. These findings suggest that access to higher education could serve as an equalizer for economic inequality.
Access to higher education varies depending on economic bracket. Children with parents in the top 1% are 77 times more likely to attend an Ivy-Plus college than children in the bottom 20%. And despite reductions in tuition, the percentage of students from low-income families remains low.
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As illustrated in the figure below, even attendance at the mid-tier colleges is falling due to rising tuition costs.
Figure 4. This chart illustrates trends in low-income access to certain colleges and universities from 2000-2011.
While higher education is linked to narrowing the gap in economic inequality, it is becoming more difficult for children from low-middle economic brackets to access schools like SUNY Stony Brook or Glendale Community college, both institutions have high rates in ability. Data such as this can be used by politicians to explore options in education policy to increase access to education.
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