One day, two students: What college looks like from opposite ends of the income gap

A college degree has long been touted as society’s great leveler, essential for entry into the middle class.

• Rachel Kurzius andHarrison Smith
• The Washington Post

Nearly 20 million students enrolled in an undergraduate program in 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Movies and television tend to portray an idealized college experience, featuring 18- to 21-year-olds who attend four-year institutions and live on campus.

But in reality the college experience is far more varied.

Only 15 percent of the undergraduate population fit the traditional profile in 2015, compared with 35 percent in 1986.

A college student…

• One day, two…