Low-Income Students and the Perpetuation of Inequality

Drawing upon quantitative data gathered from the U.S. Census and U.S. Department of Education, as well as interviews with students from a variety of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, Low-Income Students and the Perpetuation of Inequality examines the question of who really benefits from public higher education. It engages with questions of social capital, opportunity, funding and access to education, presenting a rich discussion of social mobility, the value of college education and the impact of education upon the redistribution of income. A thorough exploration of the real impact of college on American society, this volume will appeal to social scientists with interests in education, social capital, social stratification, class and social mobility. Introduction; Chapter 1 Prepared for Failure; Chapter 2 Admissions Policies Favor the Advantaged; Chapter 3 College is More Difficult for Low-Income Students; Chapter 4 Gender and Race are Interlocking Categories of Inequality; Chapter 5 Case Study: Recent Immigrants to America; Chapter 6 Erosion of the College Image; Chapter 7 As a Group, the Poor Benefit Less from a College Degree; Chapter 8 Conclusion: We Can Do Better;