College Success For Low Income Students

Updated on April 12, 2023

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Success Tips & School Research for Financially Challenged Students

According to the U.S. Department of Education, students from low-income families are generally under-prepared and less qualified for college than their higher-income peers. But a growing number of these students are bucking the trend and successfully attending college—the difference in enrollment rates between low- and high-income students is narrowing, from a gap 30 percentage points wide in 2000 to just over half of that in 2016. Colleges and universities are creating programs to help low-income students access higher education, with many making specific efforts to assure these students complete a degree. Learn more about which schools are graduating high numbers of low-income students, and get tips, advice and information on the programs designed to foster college success.

How is Low-Income Determined, and Why Does it Matter for College?

A teacher might not be able to tell a student from a low-income family from other students just by looking at them, but the differences are there, and are much more prevalent than many people think. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 21 percent of all children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty threshold; this equates to more than 15 million kids living in poverty.

What is the federal poverty threshold?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services determines a poverty threshold for statistical analysis. Additional poverty guidelines are issued by the Department to be used for determining financial eligibility for federal programs, including federal college aid. For example, the 2018 guidelines place the poverty threshold for a single-person household at $12,000 a year. A four-person household is below the poverty threshold if they make $25,100 a year or less.

Why is this important for college?

There are a growing number of services and opportunities designed to make earning a college degree more achievable for low-income individuals. Think beyond the scholarships or grants that help with tuition and consider the steps earlier in the college preparation process. O’Donnell advises, “qualifying as low-income will make you eligible for SAT and ACT fee waivers as well as college application waivers.” Beyond these fee waivers, students who qualify as low-income may be able to take advantage of free college prep and transition courses, mentoring and advising services and meal programs that lighten the financial burden of earning a college degree.

If you don’t know where to start, O’Donnell points to taking the SAT and ACT tests. She suggests it may also be a signal for other financial help, “this will save you hundreds of dollars as well as increase your eligibility for significant financial aid at many colleges.” Read more about financial aid programs below:

Federal Pell Grants + TRiO

Financial Aid for Online College

Professions that Pay Tuition

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The Best Colleges for Low-Income Students

While cost may be a leading concern, there are many factors that make a college a great fit for low-income students. Look for schools who have a proven track record of investing in the success of students who come from underserved areas and backgrounds. We have narrowed down a list of schools that are going above and beyond, serving high percentages of low-income students and providing them with the best combination of support, from student services to financial aid and graduation success. Each school listed also offers fully online undergraduate program options, giving low-income students the flexibility to look beyond their state borders at the best higher education opportunities in the nation.

See Our Rankings Methodology

School	Location	Pell Grant Recipients	Median Debt
1. South Florida State College	Lakel, FL	46%	$5,000
2. Saint Peter’s University	Newark, NJ	53%	$25,000
3. Lincoln Memorial University	Middles borough, TN	60%	$17,020
4. Florida International University	Miami, FL	56%	$17,228
5. Mississippi University For Women	Columbus, MS	44%	$15,000
6. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	Olean, NY	44%	$14,874
7. University of Mount Olive	Goldsboro, NC	52%	$28,006
8. Fresno Pacific University	Fresno, CA	56%	$21,500
9. Southern Wesleyan University	Greenville, SC	62%	$27,000
10. Claflin University	Columbia, SC	55%	$32,185
11. Florida Atlantic University	Port St. Lucie, FL	51%	$16,861
12. Santa Fe College	Gainesville, FL	52%	$11,025
13. Carlow University	Pittsburgh, PA	44%	$27,000
14. Sam Houston State University	Huntsville, TX	46%	$21,500
15. Chaminade University of Honolulu	Honolulu, HI	51%	$22,500

Expert Insight:
Challenges Poor Students Face & Resources to Help

Students with financial struggles face a unique and increasingly difficult set of trials, and it shows in their college outcomes: only 15 percent of low-income students completed a bachelor’s degree in 2015, compared to 29 percent of middle-income students. The reasons for this disparity are varies, from physical factors like lack of college role models or family obligations to socioeconomic factors like feelings of camaraderie and belonging on campus.

Lack of College Role Models

Exposure to Planning Tools

Financial Barriers

Family Obligations

Sense of Belonging

5 Tips for Success as a Low-Income Student

Potential low-income scholars can follow these steps to lay out a plan for success, both in applying to colleges and completing a degree. Expert Theresa O’Donnell offers her advice below:

Ask for help early.
Students need to seek assistance from the very start. If a student is even considering the idea of going to college, he or she should find an academic counselor in the middle or high school right away. Many programs that help students gain access to college start early, as does meeting the criteria for GPAs, standardized tests, application deadlines, and accelerated degree programs (see below).Web resources like KnowHow2Go from the American Council on Education can help students find the right questions to ask. They can also provide answers and planning strategies. Senior year of high school should include many family discussions so that everyone is informed of your wishes and options as you begin considering colleges through being admitted and accepted,” O’Donnell says. “Also, do not forget to complete the FAFSA every year to maintain loans and grants.
When considering colleges, research the graduation rates.
Students should check out College Scorecard, a U.S. Department of Education resource that allows students to search school according to varying criteria. The site shares a variety of useful information, from the percentage of students paying down their debt–a good sign that they have a quality education that provided them with a job that financially supports them, O’Donnell says–and the percentage of students who receive federal loans. She suggests finding schools with:
- A high graduation rate
- Graduates who are paying down their loans
- A large number of students who have utilized federal financial aid. These factors indicate that a school offers “bang-for-your-buck” for low-income scholars. Another factor O’Donnell suggests to look at is the number of students who earn their degree within 6 years of enrolling. We encourage students to seek schools with a 70 percent or higher overall 6-year graduation rate. This means that within six years of enrolling, 70 percent or more full-time students will graduate with a bachelor’s degree from that institution. The current national average is 59 percent.
Check out all options, and be realistic about cost.
According to O’Donnell, the cost of college is often a major factor why low-income students do not complete degrees, and therefore should be considered heavily. Four-year universities are not always the best option, and are never the only option. For-profit universities sometimes don’t offer credits that transfer easily. Many for-profit schools grant credit and degrees that will not transfer to other schools. If students plan on starting at one school and transferring to another, a much better plan is to start at a low-cost community college. They often have agreements with the major colleges and universities in that state so that credits transfer smoothly, and students graduate on time with minimal debt.
Upon acceptance, plan for success and understand your aid.
According to O’Donnell, students who are low-income should ask their school about summer bridge programs to acclimate to campus life before school begins. They can start with their academic adviser who can connect them to helpful campus services. Once on campus, be sure to meet with an academic adviser each semester as they can be a huge resource in helping you stay on track to graduate in four years and help consider taking advantage of other opportunities (e.g., internships, study abroad, a double major or minor, etc.). It’s also important to understand the aid that you’ve received and know when it renews and what you need to do to keep receiving it.
Find support and a network.
There are low-income students on every campus, all over the country. Reach out and find others like you so that you don’t feel alone. Celebrate each other’s successes and challenges. Ask your academic advisor for the plug-in or check out clubs on-campus. All students should utilize the campus writing center, office of career services, office of academic advising, career services, and the counseling center starting their first year to set themselves up for academic, career, and socio-emotional success.

College Degrees: Fast Routes to Financial Stability

No matter how you spin it, college is expensive. Even with all the scholarships and aid one can find, at some point a student is spending time in class that they could be spending earning a wage in a career–and not paying for tuition, books, housing, etc. There are some ways that students can save time, and therefore money, and get out with a degree quickly.

Accelerated Degree Programs

Accelerated degree programs are designed to make a student’s college career as efficient as possible. These types of programs may be a good fit for organized students who can dedicate their time completely to earning a degree in a short amount of time. They may not be as well-suited for students who are juggling family and work at the same time as school.

Dual Credit High School Courses

Students can enroll in some high school courses that give them credit for college. This allows students to take courses for free before they begin secondary school, resulting in lower costs and few courses to take. But be sure to check that dual enrollment classes offered by your school meet all technical requirements.

Additional Resources for Low-Income Students

College Advising Corps
With advisers in nearly 650 high schools across 14 states, this virtual advising team works with 7,500 high-achieving students from across the country.
College Possible
A program designed to make college admission and success attainable for low-income students through coaching and support.
Federal TRIO Programs
Include Upward Bound, McNair Scholarships, and Talent Search, all federal programs designed to aid low-income students.
The Common Application
A one-stop application to college, accepted by hundreds of colleges around the country.
Forward Directions
Resources for students and parents, specifically low-income and first-generation students.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
A must-do for every college student, the first stop to access to federal financial aid.
Know How 2 Go
College resources for students and parents, specifically low-income and first-generation students.
Financial Preparation for College Checklist
Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, this financial prep list starts at various points, from as late as a week before college starts to as early as elementary school.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need.
National College Access Network
A membership group for those who work with underserved, college-bound students.

College Success For Low Income Students

Success Tips & School Research for Financially Challenged Students

How is Low-Income Determined, and Why Does it Matter for College?

What is the federal poverty threshold?