There is immense value in a rigorous, broad-based, liberal arts education. Through rich discussion, application, and writing across a variety of disciplines, the liberal arts prepares students for their careers and readies them for lifelong learning and adapting to new circumstances, skills with increasing importance in the age of automation. Yet, access to the valuable liberal arts experience has historically been limited to relatively few students, most of them privileged. While many schools provide significant financial aid to defray costs, today’s liberal arts colleges still predominantly serve students who are white, wealthy, and come from college-going families. As a result, many talented young students are missing an opportunity to access the liberal arts experience, narrowing the pipeline for a diverse group of future leaders.

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