WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education has announced an allocation of more than $40 million in grants aimed at enhancing completion rates for underserved students. These grants, awarded under the Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) program, are designed to improve retention, transfer, credit accumulation, and overall graduation rates by implementing evidence-based strategies.
The PSSG program seeks to leverage data while implementing and scaling approaches that have been rigorously evaluated. The funding is distributed among seven grantees, each proposing projects tailored to specific needs of underserved student populations:
- California State University, Fresno Foundation: Awarded $7,959,963 to develop an enhanced advising project to improve retention and completion.
- Center for Collaborative Education: Received $8,000,000 to work with five community colleges on improving student success in teacher preparation programs through enhanced advisory mentoring and financial support.
- New York Institute of Technology: Granted $2,763,820 to enhance advising and support services for second and third-year underserved students, aiming to increase persistence and graduation rates.
- Research Foundation for The SUNY – Albany: Secured $3,998,852 to provide personalized financial coaching aligned with existing student success infrastructure.
- Portland State University: Allocated $7,823,199 to facilitate transfer pathways from two feeder colleges by offering comprehensive guidance and financial support.
- Jarvis Christian University: Granted $3,418,794 to support under-resourced and underperforming students in reenrollment, progression, and completion.
- University of Texas at San Antonio: Received $7,299,868 to refine and scale coaching, develop guided learning pathways, and use financial incentives to support first-generation students.
“Across the country, colleges and universities are rejecting the old idea that weeding out students was a sign of quality, and instead they are taking responsibility for all of their students’ success,” said U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. “These awards will not only help find new ways to help students graduate; they will help change expectations.”
The initiative comes in response to concerning graduation rates, with only 62% of students completing their degrees within six years. The rates are even lower for Black students, at less than half. However, recent trends show improvement, with national graduation rates increasing by seven percentage points over the past decade.
The Department’s announcement also includes the publication of a final rule for the PSSG program, establishing priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for future funding competitions. The rule sets evidence standards ranging from “Demonstrates a Rationale/Promising” to “Moderate” and “Strong,” ensuring funded projects are rigorously evaluated for their impact on student success. Additionally, grantees must submit independent evaluations of their projects’ effectiveness.
By prioritizing data-driven approaches and continuous improvement, the Department aims to enhance educational outcomes for underserved students, addressing the critical need for equitable access to quality postsecondary education.
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