The widening of college entry and completion rates between the rich and poor has been occurring steadily over the past 70 years, according to data released this month by researchers at the University of Michigan. The working paper, which uses data from the U.S. Census and the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth, also notes a striking and substantial difference between the sexes in educational attainment, with women outpacing men in every demographic group. The largest gap between men and women in completing college is at the highest economic range, with women at a 13-percentage-point advantage over their male counterparts.
