Plus, colleges that cost more for poor students than rich ones

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Liz Willen Dear reader,

In our continuing look at the many changes and challenges to U.S. higher education, we’ve found some surprising and interesting trends I can’t wait to share. One involves tens of millions of dollars the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been lending to keep rural colleges and universities afloat ([link removed]) —underscoring how integral they are to local communities and their economies.

Here’s another trend that should take us all aback: Schools where students from families earning under $30,000 are paying more ([link removed]) after discounts and aid than those from families making $110,000 a year, according to the latest available federal data. We found 17 such institutions across 14 states, including two public universities.

The many obstacles to college attainment and completion have been part of our work for many years, and we continue to see new roadblocks. As part of our Saving the College Dream ([link removed]) collaboration with seven newsrooms, we found that transfers ([link removed]) from community colleges to four-year institutions are so unwieldy and unexpectedly costly that in some cases, students are deciding it simply isn’t worth it. And yet another obstacle: Promises of free college don’t always ([link removed]) help low-income students — we look at why.

We will continue our reporting, looking for success stories, the latest research and new ways of thinking about both the value and cost of higher education. Let us know what you think: We love to hear from our readers, and need more of them! Please urge others to sign up ([link removed]) for our newsletters and get in touch with ideas.

Liz Willen, Editor

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Main Idea


** The shuttering of a rural university reveals a surprising source of its financing ([link removed])
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Rural colleges — some on shaky footing — are being shored up by the Agriculture Department
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Reading List


** Where poor students pay more than rich ones ([link removed])
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At 17 colleges, the poorest students paid more out of pocket than the wealthiest ones, due to variations in financial aid policies



** ‘Waste of time’: Community college transfers derail students ([link removed])
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Transferring from two- to four-year colleges is complicated and costly, but some schools are finding ways to make it easier



** PROOF POINTS: How can tutors reach more kids? Researchers look to ed tech ([link removed])
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Alternating between in-person tutoring and sessions on math software replicated gains of in-person tutoring in a high school study



** How the promise of free college doesn’t always help low-income students ([link removed])
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A few states are adding forms of aid that cover costs other than tuition



** OPINION: The world is changing fast. Students need data science instruction ASAP ([link removed])
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We must create a strong foundation in data literacy for every student before they graduate high school



** OPINION: Post pandemic, it’s time for a bold overhaul of U.S. public education, starting now ([link removed])
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Personalized learning can restore public faith and meet the diverse needs of our nation’s students
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