How to Increase College Success for Underserved Students

At a time when severe budget cuts in higher education could push some institutions to emphasize legacy admissions, it can be easy to overlook the needs of low-income students. But we have a moral imperative to prioritize our most vulnerable student populations.

During times of economic crisis, college success is even more important for disadvantaged students. The vast majority of jobs created after economic downturns typically require applicants to have a college degree — or at least some college education. Ninety-five percent of the jobs created during the Great Recession recovery were given to candidates with a college education.

That is why it is deeply concerning that fewer low-income students are planning to return to college for the 2020-2021 academic year. According to federal data, about 250,000 fewer students from the lowest income backgrounds renewed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Compared with this time last year, overall FAFSA renewals have dropped by nearly 5 percent.