Snapshots of economic inequality, with regard to higher education, earnings, and getting a college degree: Chart (A) shows that the high school versus higher-education earnings gap has been pronounced for the past decade, underlining the fact that people without a college degree are “left behind” economically. Chart (B) shows that for intellectually talented young people, family income makes a huge difference in getting that degree. Bottom line: In the United States, finishing college is vital and low-income high-ability students are at a severe disadvantage.

Data from: Chart (A) ICS National Center on Education Statistics, n.d. Chart (B) adapted from data in Carnevale & Strohl, 2010.