People often enroll in postsecondary institutions to build knowledge and skills, enhance their career prospects, and contribute to their communities. However, many students face barriers that make it harder for them to complete college, including limited financial support or lack of access to quality college preparation in K-12 education. Additionally, the institutions that disproportionately enroll students facing such barriers, such as community colleges or minority-serving institutions, are often underfunded, meaning students don’t receive the support they need to succeed. As a result, many students leave college, often in debt, without a credential to show for it. To enhance the value of higher education for students, it is important to create a system where all students have the opportunity to succeed.

The College Completion Strategy Guide elevates research with data disaggregated (offered separately) by income, age, and race and ethnicity when possible and includes policy briefs that highlight the needs of some student populations that have been historically underserved by postsecondary education and promising strategies to serve them well. Still, additional research is needed to understand how to support all students, regardless of background, and prepare them for meaningful careers.