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While efforts to promote college attendance may help, a key challenge is that too many low-income students who do take the first step to enroll in college never graduate. And financial assistance alone does not help low-income college students make it through their programs. They often need individualized support services that help them address various personal challenges hindering their success in school. Encouragingly, evidence points to effective solutions. The comprehensive student-support program provided by CUNY’s ASAP—which offers students assistance including tuition waivers, unlimited transit access, and dedicated academic and career advising—improves student outcomes and raises earnings. Flexible high schools for adults, such as Goodwill’s Excel Centers, and sector-based workforce training programs, like Year Up and Project QUEST, help students outside a college setting obtain skills valued by employers. Year Up combines technical and professional skills training with internships and mentorship in fields like IT and finance, while Project QUEST partners with local employers and colleges to offer tuition assistance, counseling, and job placement in high-demand sectors such as health care and advanced manufacturing.
