短语讲解：

1. When schools take students with better academic records and are able to turn other students away, they look more prestigious, he says.

be able to 能够; 能
例句：He will be able to take up his normal routine shortly.
他不久就能处理日常事务。

2. The problem is, we haven’t come up with a good way to evaluate colleges on meaningful things.

come up with 想出; 提出; 追赶上
例句：Slow down a bit and let me come up with you.
跑慢一点让我赶上吧。

3. Nichols adds that a lot of African-American, Latino and first-generation students are often low income as well.

a lot of 诸多; 许多的
例句：He is a man with a lot of experience under his belt.
他是个阅历很深的人。

4. The vast majority of students go to public universities … which means that states play a huge role in making sure that college is affordable across the country.

make sure 把事情弄清楚，核实或查明某事物; 设法确保出现某事物
例句：Please make sure that the door is locked.
请弄准门确实是锁好了。