Access & Affordability

Expand access and lower financial barriers so students of every background can successfully experience a high-quality education.

Welcome center at Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University

The Value

  • Access for low-income students fuels upward mobility and strengthens local economies through a more educated, skilled workforce.
  • Fair admissions open doors for underserved students, enriching campuses and building a more adaptable society.
  • Honoring adult learners’ prior experience speeds degree completion and meets workforce needs with skilled, career-ready graduates.

The Practice

  • Put access front and center. Reflect your commitment to access in your mission statement, website, strategic plans, and data reporting.
  • Tailor financial aid and resources. Provide clear, accessible information on financial support, especially for unique student populations.
  • Break down admissions barriers. Reduce or eliminate fees, reconsider testing requirements, and ensure counselors are accessible and supportive to all applicants.
  • Expand early college opportunities. Offer dual enrollment, summer bridge programs, and other pathways that introduce students to college early.
  • Invest in student persistence. Develop scholarship programs that offer both financial assistance and ongoing support to help students enroll and succeed.
  • Support multiple pathways to degrees. Promote credit-for-prior-learning options and create strong transfer agreements to honor students’ previous experiences.
Related Programs
SSEI Initiative

A multi-year cohort of institutions striving to accelerate student success.

Student Success
Read more.
Transfer Student Success Intensive

Adapt and evolve to meet the unique needs of current and future students.

Student Success
Read more.

View all Student Success programs.

FEATURED RESOURCES
Issue Brief | Ensuring Access: AASCU Institutions’ Practices & Policies

©January 2023

Student Success
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MEMBER IMPACT

Values in Practice

~$10,000

is the average yearly tuition for in-state, full-time undergraduates at regional public universities.

41%

of students enrolled at AASCU member institutions are Pell-eligible compared to 33% of students enrolled at non-member public four-year institutions and 35% of students enrolled in community college.