Reversing years of hard-won gains, the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the number of new high school graduates who are applying for financial aid and enrolling directly into postsecondary education.
Students of color and students from low-income backgrounds are experiencing the largest declines in Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion and postsecondary enrollment.
The situation is urgent because research shows that students who delay postsecondary enrollment after high school are 64% less
likely than their "on-time" peers to complete a bachelor's degree and 18% less likely to complete any college credential.
To respond to this historic and inequitable disruption of the high school to college pipeline, The Kresge Foundation has invested $1.5 million in an NCAN grant program to increase fall 2021 postsecondary enrollment for students in the high school classes
of 2020 and 2021. These grants will provide a surge of support into the field to help students who have been hardest hit by pandemic disruptions. Unfortunately, even pre-pandemic, longstanding systemic barriers already led to lower postsecondary enrollment rates for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.
Two types of grants are available: one to amplify state-level FAFSA completion initiatives, and one to enhance local postsecondary advising and matriculation support in select metropolitan areas. Proposals for both types of grants are due
on March 26. NCAN expects to award between 20 and 30 grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 by April 9.
“COVID-19 has derailed many students’ dreams of entering college, and the time to address this is now, before another cohort graduates this spring,” said Kresge's deputy director of education, Caroline Altman Smith. “We hope this grant leads to improvements
in concrete, short-term student outcomes, including a boost in FAFSA completion, and an increase in youth who get the support needed to enroll or re-enroll.”
The pandemic has been a devastating experience for many students graduating from high school, noted NCAN's executive director, Kim Cook. “Remote learning cut students off from many of the teachers, counselors, and advisers who supported their postsecondary
planning. Economic hardship and uncertainty led many students to set aside their college dreams to work in often low-wage jobs,” she said. “At the same time, we know many NCAN members around the country are working creatively and harder than ever
to keep these students on the path to college. These grants will provide additional financial support as well as recognition of organizations going the extra mile in this extraordinarily challenging time.”
To learn more about eligibility and the timeline for these grant opportunities, please visit our grant overview page.
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