The Answer Sheet - Report: Rise in college applications hurts low-income students: A new report concludes that the dramatic increase in college applications over the past 15 years is creating a rise in selectivity that will reduce opportunities for more low-income, first-generation students in all levels of higher education, including community colleges.
“Putting the College Admission ‘Arms Race’ In Context,” being released today by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, says public and private not-for-profit, four-year institutions experienced overall growth in applications of 47 percent and 70 percent, respectively, between 2001 and 2008.
Hispanic-serving institutions had a 111-percent increase in applications during that period, with an annual average increase of 12 percent, which is not surprising given that Hispanic students are the fastest-growing segment of high school graduates.
