These Colleges Were Just Awarded Grants to Boost Student Success Rates

• The Department of Education announced $30 million in new awards going to colleges and universities.
• The list includes a variety of state schools, private institutions, and community colleges.
• Fifteen institutions will receive funds to create centers for veteran students.

The Department of Education (ED) revealed a list of 38 colleges and universities set to receive funds from grant programs to improve outcomes for underrepresented students.

Approximately $30 million in grants will be distributed to public state schools, private institutions, and community colleges. The grants will go toward programs that aim to increase completion rates, create affordable textbook options, and help students afford basic needs while enrolled in college.

We cannot be complacent with a higher education system that leaves so many college students from diverse and underserved backgrounds without the supports and resources they need to succeed in school and, ultimately, graduate, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. The $30 million in grants announced today … will help colleges and universities advance innovative and evidence-based strategies to better support their students.

A BestColleges analysis of college completion initiatives found that these programs yield impressive results but have not been widely adopted. Congress' newly established Postsecondary Student Success Program is the most significant federal investment aimed at improving student outcomes.

ED announced five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and community colleges will be among the first to receive $4.5 million in this batch of Postsecondary Student Success grants.

The department will also award $13 million to 14 MSIs and community colleges for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program. Institutions will use these grants to help students meet basic needs like food, housing, transportation, and childcare, according to ED.

Two institutions will receive $2.5 million to help develop the Open Textbooks Pilot Program, which is an initiative to create free, publicly available textbook options for students.

ED made 15 awards worth over $8.5 million for institutions to create Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success.

Lastly, the grants include over $1 million to two colleges as part of the Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education Program.