Supporting Students of Color in Higher Education

Abstract

Students of color do not enter higher education on equal playing field, nor do they leave higher education with a degree that insulates them from labor market discrimination. While a high-quality credential can help student of color navigate future economic storms, Congress must do more to better target federal student aid, reduce reliance on federal higher-education debt, and safeguard student of color from institutions that have a poor track record of serving them well. Only through these changes will higher education attainment begin to chip away at the enormous racial wealth gap. This report recommends a concerted federal effort to ensure that qualified students of color have access to these highly-resourced and selective institutions.