Fascinating observation about race and our perceptions

[Creekland]

So many people should probably never travel with us.

[1NJParent]

@simba9

Are you saying that because UC Berkeley has a student body with a less upscale reputation than USC’s that the neighborhood around Berkeley’s campus should be less of a concern?

@simba9

The average family income of Berkeley students is at the 74th percentile of family income in the US, while USC’s is at the 78th percentile. So I get the feeling you’re basing your arguments on stereotypes and reputation rather than direct, firsthand knowledge.

I was using the comparison to show that USC has more wealthy students who can afford luxury off-campus apartments. The income percentile difference fails to capture the significant difference at the top ends of the distributions.

[MrQster]

If USC has more wealthy students, then by the math presented (USC and Berkeley’s family income is almost identical), then USC would also have a lot more lower income families than Berkeley.

[ucbalumnus]

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/economic-diversity-among-top-ranked-schools lists the percentage of Pell grant undergraduates at various universities, including the two being mentioned recently. Pell grant approximates the bottom 40-50% of family income (try FAFSA4caster with various family and income scenarios).

[1NJParent]

@MrQster

USC and Berkeley’s family income is almost identical

I don’t know where @simba9’s numbers came from, the NYTimes, from its study a few years ago, listed USC’s median income at $161.4k (78th %ile) and UC Berkeley’s at $119.9k (72nd %ile). The difference in median income is nearly 35%, no way to be described as “almost identical”.

Economic diversity and student outcomes at U.S.C.

Economic diversity and student outcomes at U.C. Berkeley