Give the Gift of a College Education
The need is urgent:
For too many talented students of color, cost—not capability—blocks the path to a degree. Rising tuition, housing, and everyday expenses create gaps that financial aid no longer fully covers. When those gaps widen, students are forced to stop out, take on unsustainable debt, or work so many hours that coursework suffers.
Unmet need is pervasive. In 2019–20, 88% of Black students and 82% of Hispanic/Latino students faced unmet financial need, a key driver of borrowing and stop-outs.
The consequences are severe. Over the past 20 years, 50% of Black and 40% of Hispanic/Latino student-loan borrowers have experienced a loan default—far higher than White borrowers (29%). Default damages credit, limits career options, and drags down long-term wealth.
