Elite universities urged to enroll more working-class students
A New York Times opinion piece argues that wealthy universities like Princeton can be pushed to enroll more working- and middle-class students. The article cites data showing that top universities now have a larger share of rich students than in the 1980s, referencing a Chalkbeat report and an NBER working paper. The piece calls for increased economic diversity at elite institutions.
Key facts
- Wealthy colleges like Princeton can be pushed to enroll more working- and middle-class students.
- Top universities now have a larger share of rich students than in the 1980s.
- The article references a Chalkbeat report from February 10, 2026.
- The article references an NBER working paper (w33164).
- The opinion piece was published in The New York Times on June 25, 2026.
Entities
Institutions
- Princeton University
- Chalkbeat
- National Bureau of Economic Research
- The New York Times