In the United States, deep, persistent disparities in higher education outcomes exist by race/ethnicity and income. Inequities in college and university enrolment by race and ethnicity have narrowed, but access to economic opportunity is increasingly determined by programme of study and completion of recognised credentials, where serious disparities remain. Stratification of higher education opportunity by race and ethnicity and by income has been on the rise, exacerbating group differences in outcomes: elite, selective colleges are becoming less diverse while African American and Latino students are increasingly concentrated in non-selective two- and four-year institutions. Despite these dispiriting trends, there are reasons for optimism. Researchers and practitioners have made significant progress in testing and identifying institutional practices that can improve outcomes for students from marginalised populations. In addition, public and policymaker concerns about college cost, student debt and institutional performance are creating new openings for consideration of policies that can mitigate current trends.