<p>Interesting link about the Pell grants–it really makes Smith’s commitment to low-income students and economic diversity very clear.</p>
<p>The graphs showing how the percentage of Pell recipients has changed over time is very striking. Most other colleges shown stayed pretty close to level between the early 80s and now, but Smith’s Pell percentage has taken off dramatically.</p>
<p>At the same time, the cost of admitting a Pell recipient is much greater now than it used to be, because the size of Pell grants has shrunk after adjusting for inflation while the sticker price has skyrocketed well above the inflation rate.</p>
<p>So, turning down a full-pay student for a Pell recipient costs much more now than it used to, because the amount of institutional grant aid now required to supplement the Pell is so much greater.</p>
<p>All the more credit due to Smith, in my opinion.</p>