Top Schools Face Backlash Over Financial Aid Misuse Allegations

Charges that 17 of the nation’s top universities rigged acceptance to avoid paying too much in financial aid could drive away students across economic and racial lines, education experts warned.

“The allegation suggests that colleges want to look good without actually being too good, and by allegedly colluding with one another, they’re trying to buy their student bodies, especially diverse students, for a cheaper price,” said Derek W. Black, professor of education law at the University of South Carolina. “Don’t want antitrust litigation? Stop holding down financial aid packages because the kids today, they don’t really want a monolithic institution. ...