Poorer families bearing brunt of college price hikes, data shows

By Holly K. Hacker. America’s colleges and universities are quietly shifting the burden of tuition increases onto low-income students. Yet many wealthy families are seeing their costs rise more slowly, or even fall, an analysis of federal data shows.
The trend could further widen the gap between the nation’s rich and poor, say financial aid experts and a growing number of university leaders. They worry about college degrees drifting beyond the economic reach of many students.
“We’re just exacerbating the income inequalities and educational achievement gaps,” said Deborah Santiago, vice president of Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit group that advocates for Latino and other students. More...