College attendance boosts political participation overall, but does attending an affluent campus help close a gap between income groups? A large panel survey (201,011 students) investigates this question. Using controls and tests for selection bias, we find that predominantly affluent campuses do not change the level of increase in political engagement across different income levels; they leave the gap unchanged. We examine multiple mechanisms behind any effects.
Our findings challenge assumptions about campus environments equalizing participation by showing no differential impact based on socioeconomic diversity. Instead, they suggest affluent spaces maintain existing disparities rather than exacerbate them or create a bridge between students. This result has implications for understanding how inequality persists through educational institutions.
