June 20, 2024 – Public Agenda, a research-to-action nonprofit dedicated to building a democracy that works for everyone, announced today the release of a new resource highlighting the culture and practices of six colleges and universities providing the greatest economic mobility for low-income students. This resource serves as a guide for institutions seeking to improve long-term outcomes for low income students and to contribute to restoring mobility and opportunity to the United States.

Full Report Here

Funded by The Kresge Foundation, these case studies delve into the policies and practices of colleges and universities excelling on the Economic Mobility Index. The initiative examined factors contributing to access, affordability, and post-graduation earnings. The institutions featured in the project include: 

• California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
• University of California, Riverside (Riverside, CA)
• Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI)
• Wayne State University (Detroit, MI)
• Texas A&M International University (Laredo, TX)
• University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg, TX)

These institutions in diverse regions across the country serve as models for enhancing economic mobility and offer valuable insights into effective educational practices and policies. Here are some thematic takeaways from this work:

• Recruitment: A significant component of an individual student’s success is the “buy-in” of their entire family – especially for first-generation students. By demonstrating institutional commitment and emphasizing a sense of belonging, these institutions make a credible promise, with credibility of positive future outcomes to prospective enrollees and their families, thereby overcoming barriers of skepticism. 
• Connection: Community is a core focus at many universities in the study. These institutions hire many alumni, creating a sense of authenticity in the eyes of the local population they serve. They also focus on connecting students through academic peer support networks and identity-based centers on campus.
• Investment: A key driver of economic policy among these high-performing universities is reframing “can we?” as “how do we?”—especially in making tuition affordable. Many universities in the study built financial models with free tuition for low income students as a cornerstone. They also invested heavily in data technology and advising to boost retention and graduation rates for these same students.

“While existing indices highlight the best schools serving low-income students, they can’t tell us how and why,” said Andrew J. Seligsohn, PhD, President of Public Agenda. “This project delved into the policies, practices, and cultural norms that make these institutions excel. Each case study revealed distinctive insights, but we also identified common themes and practices that can serve as a blueprint for other colleges and universities who see catalyzing economic mobility as a core purpose of higher education.”

This research utilized Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index to identify six exemplary colleges serving low-income students. The schools selected for the case studies were chosen based on various criteria, including geographic location, type of degrees conferred, and overall student populations served. Through interviews, focus groups, and site visits, Public Agenda explored the key strategies and cultural practices that support economic mobility, which are detailed in both the individual case studies and synthesized in a general overview of learnings. 

To read more information about this resource, visit here. 

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Questions or requests can be directed to Public Agenda’s Press Office [email protected]. 

About Public Agenda

Public Agenda is a national research-to-action organization that digs deep into the key challenges facing our democracy to uncover insights and solutions. Founded in 1975 by the social scientist and public opinion research pioneer Dan Yankelovich and former secretary of state Cyrus Vance, we engage with advocates, journalists, policymakers, and the philanthropic community to ensure public voice is heard in conversations that shape our shared future.