Giving Compass' Take:

· Writing for Pacific Foundation Services, Eunice Valentine addresses the real college admissions scandal: Inequitable preparation for and access to college, and the barriers that prevent so many students from attending. 

· Why is the college graduation rate so low? Is the American public education system adequately preparing students for college? What is the best way to provide equal access and support to students? 

· Read more on this topic and learn about this model aiming to expand college access and success for low-income students.

The American dream is fueled by a collective faith in merit-based opportunity and graduating from college is an essential ingredient for many along the path to realizing their goals. While educational attainment is a game-changer in terms of future outcomes, the recent college admissions scandal suggests that the frenzy around college entry has reached a boiling point. Yet, even as inequity and fraud at a handful of elite schools dominates the headlines, the far more widespread and concerning reality is that less than 29% of adults in the United States graduate from college1. The degree gap is disproportionately higher for people of color. According to a 2011 report2, just 19% of African Americans and 12% of Hispanics between the ages of 25 and 29 having a college degree compared to 37% of Whites in this age group.

Not only are the high costs of college unaffordable for many children and their families, but many youth face significant social, emotional, and academic barriers—as well as outsized familial responsibilities—that hamper their ability to enter college and earn a degree.

When we think of the high stakes process of getting into college, there’s a tendency to look at the Ivy League, but 99.4% of college students do not attend one of these schools. The vast majority of colleges serve a much broader sector of students, and thankfully, the understanding of what it takes—not only to prepare for and gain access to college, but to thrive during and beyond—is broadening for funders, nonprofits, and schools alike. The conversation has shifted to include a more holistic definition of success and a continuum of supports to help students navigate hurdles, many of which disproportionately affect low-income, minority, and first-generation college students, years before even considering applying to college.

Read the full article about barriers to college access by Eunice Valentine at Pacific Foundation Services.