OPINION: Let’s pay more attention to colleges that educate the vast majority of Americans — from hechingerreport.org by Julie E. Wollman and Jaquiline M. Wallis
It’s time to worry less about the elites and more about schools that are helping all kinds of students

Excerpt:

Certain evidence does indeed suggest that an elite institution can transform the lives of such students, although other studies demonstrate that elite spaces exacerbate marginalization. Notably, expanding the size of the entering classes at elite institutions would impact only a small number of students.

We can do much better than that. We should, instead, focus on addressing the needs of the other 95 percent of institutions that are actually educating the vast majority of college students.

The other 95 percent serve a diverse group, including older students, veterans and parents and caregivers. Students at the 95 percent are typically seeking an affordable education and are reluctant to take on debt for higher education.

They are also seeking convenience: a safe, economical way to get to campus or study online or in a hybrid format and a schedule that allows them to continue to work full or part time.