<p>hawkette:</p>
<p>You could cross compare the graduation list with the wealth of the matriculating Frosh, or, lacking data, Pell Grantees for a proxy, and methinks you’d find a high correlation between four-year graduation rate and wealth.</p>
<p>Thus, your central thesis is correct only for middle and upper middle income families:</p>
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<p>By definition, Pell Grantees do not have money to be able to “put aside.” These kids have to work, often long hours, to attend college. State colleges typically don’t offer full rides to poor kids, unlike several well-endowed colleges at the top of your list. </p>
<p>According to the LA Times, Cal Berkeley has more Pell Grantees on campus than all of the Ivies, combined. Comparing its four-year grad rate to H or P is apples and oranges. Make an adjustment for income, and the publics will move up. </p>
<p>Note, until recently, UVa had a lower % of Pell Grantees than some of the Ivies, so its place on the 4-year list supports the income inequality point. Further, Southern Cal has the highest % of Pell Grantees of major private Unis-- more than 2-3 times than the well endowed eastern colleges.</p>