Far too many students cannot afford to invest in postsecondary education, much less persist and complete. While traditional scholarships are key to helping students access higher education, scholarship funds can have a much greater impact when combined with additional supports or purposeful program design.
Beyond Financial Support
Scholarships and grant aid have been shown to positively affect postsecondary access and attainment. A 2024 analysis with more than 7.6 million students, found that, despite variations among grant aid programs, on average, they produced positive effects across key dimensions related to postsecondary attainment, including enrollment, credit accumulation, persistence, and completion.
By combining advising, academic resources, basic needs, and emergency assistance into scholarship programs, institutions and funders are helping students not only afford college but also stay on track to graduate.
As scholarships become more important amid numerous challenges facing higher education, there is a clear call to action: Develop programs that do more than just cover tuition but ensure programs also support students on their journey to success.
How Scholarships Increase Postsecondary Access and Attainment
