Making
the Case
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> Making the Case
> Access and Success for
Diverse Students > Students of All Income Levels
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Contrary to popular perception, small and mid-sized private colleges and universities enroll a greater proportion of low-income students and a smaller proportion of high-income students than the larger public research universities.
Fact 1 - Enrollment by Family Income Levels
Independent colleges and universities enroll students from all income
levels in similar proportions to public institutions, with two notable
exceptions at either end of the income scale. At the lower end, smaller
(non-doctoral) independent colleges enroll a greater proportion of low-income
students—those with parental incomes less than $20,000—than
do the large public research (doctoral) universities (12 percent versus
10 percent). At the upper end, the larger publics enroll a greater proportion
of higher income students—whose parents earn $100,000 or more (25
percent versus 22 percent).
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Fact 2 - Enrollment of Low-Income
Students (Parental Income)
The proportion of low-income students (those with parental incomes of
less than $20,000 per year) enrolled at small and mid-sized independent
colleges and universities is the same or greater than at public four-year
institutions. For example, low-income students make up 12 percent of the
enrollment at smaller (non-doctoral) privates versus only 10 percent at
larger (doctoral) publics.
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Fact 3 - Enrollment of Low-Income
Students (Pell Grant Recipients)
Students receiving Pell Grants make up a larger proportion of the student
bodies at small and mid-sized independent colleges and universities than
at other types of four-year institutions. The percentage of Pell Grant
recipients in 2003-04 at smaller (non-doctoral) independent colleges was
31 percent compared to 24 percent at public research (doctoral) universities.
When tracked over an eight-year period, the increase in the proportion
of Pell Grant recipients at the smaller (non-doctoral) privates is 2 to
1 over the proportion at the larger public (doctoral) universities.
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Fact 4 - Wisconsin Data
Wisconsin’s private colleges and universities enroll slightly more
of the neediest students, and slightly fewer of the wealthiest students,
than does the University of Wisconsin system.
Source: Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board, “Board Report #03-14, Wisconsin State Student Financial Ad Data for 2001-02.”
Fact 5 - Ohio Data
In Ohio, 25 percent of entering full-time freshmen at private colleges
were from families earning $35,000 or less, and almost half (48 percent)
were from families earning $50,000 or less. Only 20 percent were from
families with incomes above $80,000.
Source: Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, “Measuring Up? Ohio’s Independent Colleges Make the Grade,” AICUO Financial Aid Surveys, 1991-92, 2001-01; AICUO/ACT Retention Study.
These materials reference the themes and topics addressed in the above facts and data, serving as a helpful resource on how presidents and others are making the case for independent higher education.
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Copyright ©1997-2008 Council of Independent Colleges. All rights reserved. |
