Wealth, Race, and Higher Education Outcomes: How Wealth Shapes Students’ Experiences, Outcomes, and Success in College and Beyond

Title: Wealth, Race, and Higher Education Outcomes: How Wealth Shapes Students’ Experiences, Outcomes, and Success in College and Beyond

Type: Report

Author: Institute for Higher Education Policy

Date Published: July 2025

Summary: This report explores how wealth and educational attainment intersect to shape students’ financial security and access to wealth-building tools like homeownership and retirement accounts, using national data. It finds that racial disparities persist even among college graduates, with Black bachelor’s degree recipients facing the greatest barriers.