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How Our Colleges Favor the Rich and Divide America

Edgar Cox

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Published in The Merit Myth: How Our Colleges Favor The Rich And Divide America

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A groundbreaking investigation into the widening gap between rich and poor at America's colleges, and how it's undermining our democracy.

In recent years, the gap between rich and poor students at America's colleges has grown wider than ever before. This is due in part to a number of factors, including the rising cost of tuition, the decline of financial aid, and the increasing use of standardized tests in college admissions.

The Merit Myth: How Our Colleges Favor the Rich and Divide America

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The consequences of this growing gap are profound. Rich students are more likely to attend selective colleges and universities, where they have access to better resources and opportunities. They are also more likely to graduate from college and earn higher salaries. Poor students, on the other hand, are more likely to attend less selective colleges and universities, where they have access to fewer resources and opportunities. They are also more likely to drop out of college and earn lower salaries.

This growing gap between rich and poor students is not only an economic issue, but also a social and political issue. It is undermining our democracy by creating a society that is increasingly divided along class lines. Rich Americans are increasingly able to buy their children's way into the best colleges and universities, while poor Americans are increasingly left behind.

This is a problem that we can no longer afford to ignore. We need to take action to make college more affordable for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. We also need to reform our college admissions system to make it more fair and equitable. And we need to invest in our public colleges and universities so that they can provide all students with a high-quality education.

The future of our democracy depends on it.

About the Author

Richard Reeves is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he directs the Center on Children and Families. He is the author of several books, including Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, Why Not All Kids Go to College, and The Education We Deserve.