Making the Case

Key Messages and Data • Making the Case Resources • Media Activity • Speeches and Addresses • Books and Reports •

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.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, 2003-04 (NPSAS:04). Analysis by the Council of Independent Colleges.