SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: Washington University likes to advertise its top ranks. It consistently leads national lists of the best college food and housing, and it has been a consistent presence in the top 20 of the U.S. News & World Report’s yearly list of best colleges. But in recent years, the University has also been placed atop a set of less celebrated rankings.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: The Socioeconomic Survey asked students questions about how they fund their Washington University education and if they feel their economic status affects their experiences here. Students were also able to share stories about feeling out of place based on their economic status.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: When it comes to changes in Washington University’s stance on socioeconomic diversity in recent years, many are quick to identify as the impetus Provost Holden Thorp. Widely viewed as Chancellor Mark Wrighton’s heir presumptive, Thorp has held the position of provost at the University since July 2013, when he left his job as chancellor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: Have you ever felt isolated at Washington University because of your socioeconomic status…Tell us about it” – First question of Student Life’s inaugural socioeconomic survey

Welcome to Student Life’s first-ever Socioeconomic Issue. The staff at Student Life has put countless hours into the pages of this issue, from design to editing to statistical analysis to writing and more.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: According to the 2015 Socioeconomic Survey conducted by Student Life, 41 percent of undergraduate respondents receive need-based financial aid and 21 percent of respondents rely on need-based financial aid as their primary source of tuition.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: What if I told you that you could save thousands of dollars for a semester in housing and food costs by studying in Central London instead of St. Louis? No, the United Kingdom has not suffered the biggest financial crisis in modern history, and, no, St. Louis has not suddenly transformed into the new Manhattan.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: Bob Hansman agreed to have dinner with me to talk about inequality both on- and off-campus—about how to use our power as students to challenge assumptions and tackle poverty, both in discussion and in practice.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: For the dozens of student-run and Student Union-funded performing arts groups on Washington University’s campus, putting on a show with a limited budget and limited resources can be a challenge.

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE: The average median income for visual and performing arts majors is $42,000 a year. But the economic costs start long before a Sam Fox student graduates.