To the Editor:

Education Trust's unreasonable, if not outlandish, research assumptions and untested data ("Only 5 Colleges Do Well by Low-Income Students, Report Says," The Chronicle, June 1) lead to research findings that generate sensational headlines and have the potential to detract from serious policy discussions. Moreover, the trust's conclusions are a disservice to colleges nationwide struggling to expand opportunities for low-income students, even as they face severe budget constraints.

More than 25 percent of enrolled undergraduates at private nonprofit colleges report family incomes of less than $30,000. Almost half of our undergraduates are the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree. In 2007-8, private nonprofit institutions awarded $19.3-billion in grant aid, more than 6.5 times the grant aid awarded by the federal government.

Without question, higher education, policy makers, and the nation need to stay focused on improving college access, affordability, and success for low-income students. However, it strains credibility for Education Trust to report that less than one-half percent of U.S. four-year colleges and universities effectively serve low-income students.

David L. Warren
President
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Washington