In the wake of court rulings restricting race‑conscious admissions, many selective colleges have moved to prioritizing economic diversity, and several report record enrollments of low‑income and Pell‑eligible students. Institutional leaders at campuses such as Princeton said focused recruitment, targeted financial aid and geographic outreach drove the changes, and that socioeconomic outreach is now a primary lever for diversifying classes. Colleges framed the pivot as legally safer and operationally scalable, while acknowledging it will not fully substitute for race‑based considerations. Enrollment data from a set of elite institutions show consistent increases in Pell recipients; administrators credit scholarships, partnerships with community programs and tailored outreach to underrepresented regions. The shift raises compliance questions as the administration signals scrutiny of some campus diversity practices. Admissions, financial‑aid and legal teams are aligning around metrics, outreach strategies and documentation that defend socioeconomic targeting within current regulatory constraints.