Colleges use merit aid for talented middle- and upper- income students because it is less costly than pursuing similar prospects from poor families, said Catharine Hill, Vassar’s president.

“Unfortunately this kind of choice further contributes to the income inequality that has increased significantly in the United States over the last three or four decades,” Hill said in an e-mail. “Our nation’s commitment to equal opportunity and social mobility is at risk.”

Along with subsidizing tuition, Amherst gives funding for costs such as bedding and interview clothes for seniors’ job interviews, said Tom Parker, dean of admissions.

“If you want to be diverse, you can’t be diverse on the cheap,” Parker said in a phone interview.

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