Financial aid falls short for minority, low-income college students

[deadparrot]

The nation's top public universities "are becoming disproportionately whiter and richer," says a new report that looks at enrollment and graduation rates at 50 public flagship universities.

The report argues that financial aid practices at those and similar institutions create barriers for low-income and minority students.

"The flagships occupy a special place in cultivating the next generation of leaders in their states," says Kati Haycock, director of the non-profit Education Trust and a co-author of the report, released Monday. "With their special status comes a special responsibility to combine excellence with equity."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-11-20-financial-aid_x.htm

[Mythsaje]

1. No kidding?

Color me shocked. Shocked, I tell you!

[Donnachaidh]

2. Republican "Mission Accomplished"

If you're not white and wealthy, get your behind to the back of the bus. Or run behind it, so we can step on you on the way out. :sarcasm:

[endarkenment]

3. How about them Pell grants?

I went through a good state university on a combination of pell, regent's scholarships, and a small student loan. That was way back in the late 70's.

The pell grant then (the last year I had one):
1979-80 face value: $1,800 tuition inflation adjusted: $1,146

The pell grant now:
2003-04 face value: $4,050 tuition inflation adjusted: $464

Pretty cool huh? I guess we have decided, as a society, that an educated populace is a bad idea.

Coincidentally the slide in pell grant value starts in 1980-81, about the same time that the right reclaimed power and it became mourning in america.

http://www.finaid.org/educators/pellgrant.phtml