What students bring to college matters more than what colleges bring to students. The lesson has relevance beyond elite schools. As a society, we've peddled college as a cure for many ills. Society needs more skilled workers. So, send more students to college.
College graduates earn much more than high-school graduates.
In that, we've succeeded. Perhaps three quarters of high-school graduates go to college, including community colleges. But half or more don't finish. A new study from the Department of Education reports that these students achieve only modest gains in skills and income. And the finding is strongest for black and Hispanic students.