Since the end of World War II, the United States has dramatically expanded access to a college education so that, today, approximately two out of every three Americans pursues a higher education. Still, many groups remain largely excluded, and even among those who do go, where a student starts college has become increasingly tied to their wealth and that of their families. How can we open up the promise of higher education to even the most marginalized citizens—and why is it important to the health of our democracy?