Figuring out the economics of college diversity

What's up! So the New York Times had a piece about the most economically diverse colleges. Can't seem to find the list. Does anyone know the colleges they included? Knowing that schools celebrate and support diversity gives me more perspective when choosing where to apply. Any help is appreciated.

Absolutely, I can share that information with you! The New York Times compiled a "College Access Index" a while ago, based on the economic diversity of colleges. The Index was essentially a measure of how committed colleges with a five-year graduation rate of at least 75% were to economic diversity.

The factors they considered were a combination of the proportion of students who received Pell grants (which typically go to families making less than $70,000), the graduation rate of those students, and the net price that the college charged both low and middle-income students.

From the last time this list was updated, the top five schools that ranked the highest in economic diversity included: University of California-Irvine, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of California-Davis, University of California-San Diego, and University of Florida.

That said, remember that diversity isn't only about economics. Colleges and universities celebrate and foster diversity in a multitude of ways, including race, religion, nationality, identity, and interests. As you're researching and selecting colleges to apply to, keep in mind that diversity can exist on many levels, all of which can contribute to an enriching college experience.

Finally, the concrete list may vary year by year based on change in university policies and cohort demographics. Hence, it's important to also check the universities' official websites and their current policies towards diversity for the most accurate and precise information.