Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States — 2018 Historical Trend Report

Before presenting the equity indicators, in this Setting the Stage (STS) chapter, we first present key data on the structure and context of postsecondary education in the United States. We review the number and percentage distribution of institutions and enrollment by institution level (2-year and 4-year), control (public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit), and selectivity. We also report the increase in the percentage of youth that is poor as measured by eligibility for the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program and receipt of Pell or other Federal Grants. We also observe changes in the percent of students that are potentially first-generation to attend college. In this 2018 edition, we also describe trends in the distribution of income and wealth within the United States, and, throughout, we include attention to some differences by state.

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