Dive Brief:

• Michelle Obama is beginning a new push to increase the number of low-income students in college.
• The first lady plans to visit schools around the country and use social media to convey to students that higher education is important.
• Obama plans to work with the Education Department to meet the president's goal of increasing the United States' ranking among countries with the highest percentage of college graduates; it's currently 12th.

Dive Insight:

Obama's story as a successful college graduate from humble beginnings may resonate with students, but she has her work cut out for her. National statistics show that 52% of high school graduates from low-income families enroll in college right after high school — a number 30 points lower than kids from high-income families.