Diversity by Any Other Name: Are There Viable Alternatives to Affirmative Action in Higher Education‪?‬

I. Introduction The returns to a college education have never been greater. In 2000, college graduates made 80 percent more on average than those with only a high school degree. Over a lifetime, this amounts to more than a million-dollar difference in income (College Board 2002). Moreover, the relative benefits of a college degree are likely to continue to grow as the labor market increasingly favors skilled over unskilled workers. Unfortunately, access to higher education is difficult for many due to issues of affordability and preparation (Ellwood and Kane 2000, ACSFA 2001 and 2002). Furthermore, general access to higher education has become less important as research has shown that the greatest benefits are primarily available at particular types of institutions. There has been growing dispersion in the incomes of college-educated Americans since 1970, and nearly half of this can be explained by the increased segregation of top students at schools with considerable resources (Hoxby and Long 1999). Therefore, gaining access to a high-quality college has become the goal of many families.