Family wealth reaches further: Grandparents' income links to grandchildren's college access

Article excerpt

It has long been understood that parents' income plays a major role in children's access to higher education. But a new study published in Canadian Studies in Population suggests that grandparents' income matters, too. By analyzing multigenerational tax data, researchers at Université de Montréal found a direct and significant correlation between grandparents' earnings and the likelihood that their grandchildren will pursue postsecondary education.