The Gatekeepers of Higher Education
A recent survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed may provide some insights into the sorting mechanism that today's version of higher education is known for. How does higher education perpetuate inequality? Let's take a look at the admissions practices of our most accessible, affordable, bachelor's-degree granting institutions-- America's public universities. Admissions officers at public universities reported: Distributing at least some financial aid as a reward, rather than focusing their limited budgets on helping the neediest students afford college. Fully 31% (nearly as many as the private universities) said they are increasing their effort to distribute such "merit" aid, which studies have shown flows disproportionately to advantaged students whose propensities to graduate college are already very high. There's very little return on investment for such spending and yet 44% of these folks said merit aid was a "good use" of institutional re...