NYTimes has a really neat comparison of economic diversity (the lack thereof, actually) in US universities. Worth checking it outhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/18/upshot/some-colleges-have-more-students-from-the-top-1-percent-than-the-bottom-60.html. If it wasn't worse than you would've imagined, I'd be surprised.
- Our elite universities have more students from the Top 1% (households that make $630,000+ / year) than the bottom 60%. For instance, 10% of the students at Michigan come from the Top 1% of the income ladder.
- Half the students at Stanford or Michigan come from the top 10% of wealthy households
- The household income of the median student at Stanford or Michigan is in the 80th percentile
- There isn't much of a difference between elite public and private universities
and of course.... going to college matters- Our elite universities have more students from the Top 1% (households that make $630,000+ / year) than the bottom 60%. For instance, 10% of the students at Michigan come from the Top 1% of the income ladder.
- Half the students at Stanford or Michigan come from the top 10% of wealthy households
- The household income of the median student at Stanford or Michigan is in the 80th percentile
- There isn't much of a difference between elite public and private universities
- These are 2013 numbers for the incoming freshman class. I can guarantee you that (at least at UM) it has stratified further since then).
- That said, at most public universities, a good number of students do transfer in from smaller colleges, so these number should look a bit better.
- That said, at most public universities, a good number of students do transfer in from smaller colleges, so these number should look a bit better.
