New York Times Analysis: Elite Colorado Universities Fail to Prioritize Economic Diversity

Colorado's top colleges have been accused of becoming less economically diverse in recent years, according to an analysis by The New York Times. This alarming trend sheds light on the commitment of these universities to fostering economic diversity, especially as they reassess their admissions policies in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling against race-based affirmative action.

The Times conducted their evaluation of over 250 prestigious universities nationwide, including four in Colorado, based on the percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The newspaper found all four of the Colorado institutions included in the analysis fell below the national average of 21% when it came to attaining an economically diverse student body. The University of Colorado Boulder, the flagship institution of the state, saw a decline of 7 percentage points in freshmen receiving federal Pell Grants, reaching a mere 14% in the 2020-21 academic year. This placed them at a disappointing rank of 230 out of 286 schools.

Similarly, the University of Denver's share was reported to be 16%, down 1 percentage point from previous years, and the Colorado School of Mines recorded a meager 13%, which experienced a decline of 6 percentage points.

The University of Colorado Boulder acknowledges these percentages as being a possible issue and claims to be actively working towards addressing the economic barriers that hinder diversity on their campus. In an effort to remove any possible barriers, the university has expanded a program that covers tuition and fees for eligible Colorado resident students who qualify for federal Pell Grants.