The College Student Success Act would strengthen financial and academic supports, such as public benefits and career counseling, that help students complete school and secure good jobs. CLASP urges Congress to pass this bill to make aid responsive, transform education delivery, and leverage outcome information to improve decision making.
“Nontraditional” students have significant unmet financial need. This can lead them to drop out or prevent them from enrolling. These students—who are low income, financially independent, working, and/or parenting—are now the majority of students in college. However, our postsecondary education system wasn’t designed to meet their needs. That’s why CLASP works with states and community colleges to provide students access to public benefits (like SNAP and child care) that can help them meet basic needs while they’re enrolled. We also promote policies to maximize the impact of state-based grant aid and work-study programs. And we promote improved equity in states’ outcomes-based funding formulas for public postsecondary institutions.