The Privileged Path to Elite College Admissions

A new study by Opportunity Insights, a group of economists based at Harvard, reveals that being very rich is its own qualification for admission to elite colleges. The study analyzed admissions records, standardized test scores, and internal admissions assessments from a dozen top colleges, including Ivy League universities and Stanford. It found that even when controlling for SAT scores and other factors, applicants from the top 1 percent of income were 34 percent more likely to be admitted than the average applicant. Legacy admissions, preference for recruited athletes, and higher nonacademic ratings for students from private schools were identified as factors contributing to the advantage of wealthy applicants. The study highlights how elite colleges perpetuate wealth and opportunity inequality and raises questions about diversifying admissions to promote socioeconomic diversity.