Entry Credit

• Jon Marcus, The Hechinger Report

About the Entry

This collection of stories digs into the data on federal Pell Grant recipients, looks at initiatives aimed at getting more low-income students into college, and examines the distressingly low rate of return on many of the big-ticket investments being made in boosting postsecondary access and completion.

• Silicon Valley aims its tech at helping low-income kids get beyond high school

• More high school grads than ever are going to college but 1 in 5 will quit

• Billions in financial aid is going to students who aren’t graduating

Comments from the Judges

“The articles marshal some powerful research that should give pause to efforts to increase college attendance until we have better completion strategies.”

“Very good reporting, especially the startling one about the lack of Pell-funded graduates. That was an excellent discovery.”

“Makes a strong argument that adequate supports for these students are missing, and that we have sold them a bill of goods, not to mention a pile of debt.”

SEE THE FULL LIST OF 2018 FINALISTS