Sara Goldrick-Rab

About the Author

Sara Goldrick-Rab is a renowned sociologist and higher education policy expert whose work illuminates the profound challenges facing students in pursuit of the American Dream. With a PhD from Northwestern University, she has dedicated her career to researching the intersections of poverty, education, and social mobility, advocating for equitable access to college through data-driven insights and bold policy recommendations. As founding director of the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University, Goldrick-Rab has influenced national conversations on student debt and affordability. Her seminal book, Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream, exposes the systemic barriers that undermine higher education's promise, drawing on extensive fieldwork to propose transformative solutions for a more just society.