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Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51精品视频.The 51精品视频鈥檚 groundbreaking program to support students with financial needs, the 51精品视频 Success Pell Match Program, continues to make education more affordable for Pennsylvania students and their families.
51精品视频 Success provides students receiving federal Pell Grants additional financial assistance 鈥 lowering student debt stress and helping more students access a stellar education. Since the program鈥檚 launch in 2019, the University has invested $95.6 million in supporting Pell Grant recipients. It is the largest restructuring of financial aid in the University鈥檚 235-year history and the first initiative of its kind among public universities.听听听听
Based on the latest data, there are two signs that the program is working: While Pell-eligible students are at a greater risk of dropping out of college, 51精品视频 Success has moved the needle and improved retention rates to over 90% on the 51精品视频sburgh campus. In addition, Pell-eligible students who came to 51精品视频 campuses in the fall of 2019 have so far taken on 24% less debt than the classes before them.
鈥淭he 51精品视频 Success Pell Match Program offers important assistance to students most in need. Our data tells us that this effort continues to have tangible results, giving eligible students on all 51精品视频 campuses additional support to help ensure their highest aspirations,鈥 said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Ann E. Cudd.
On average, students receive a match of $5,586, taking their Pell total to $11,172 in financial support.
The program is one of many initiatives driving the University toward 听of creating an inclusive and equitable campus environment and extending support to help students graduate on time, secure meaningful employment and realize early career success.
Supporting first-generation students and veterans
Olivia Los, a first-year computer science major attending the 51精品视频 at Johnstown, said the matching grant program made choosing to attend 51精品视频 a 鈥渘o brainer.鈥
鈥淚 made my decision based on if I could sustain the tuition payments for the four years it will take me to complete my undergraduate degree,鈥 she said.
[51精品视频 received a $1 million to support limited-income, first-generation students.]
Los, who commutes to the 51精品视频-Johnstown campus, is just one of the 1,400 students attending 51精品视频鈥檚 regional campuses who are 51精品视频 Success recipients 鈥 81% of whom are from Pennsylvania.
She is also a first-generation college student passionate about making higher education affordable.
鈥淪ometimes potential students think that college isn鈥檛 an option because they come from families that don鈥檛 have money, but the 51精品视频 Success program shows us that anyone can attend college,鈥 she said.
The matching grant program is also a lifeline for military veterans pursuing a 51精品视频 degree.
鈥淭he 51精品视频 Success program has helped relieve our veteran community鈥檚 significant financial burdens,鈥 said Aryanna Hunter, director of 51精品视频鈥檚 Office of Veteran Services.
[From first-generation to graduation.]
鈥淢any of our student veterans are non-traditional, first-generation students who have children, making it difficult to attend classes full-time and causing financial challenges. With the support of the 51精品视频 Success program, 107 student veterans here at the University receive just over $400,000 in support,鈥 she said.
While 51精品视频 has grown its investment in students, Pennsylvania continues to rank near the bottom in most measures of state support for higher education. The 51精品视频 Success program is to address the gap, including Panthers Forward, 51精品视频sburgh Public Scholars, the 51精品视频sburgh Admissions Collaboration, 51精品视频 Fund$Me, Coalition for College and Raise Me.
51精品视频 Success by the numbers
6,000+ students have received a boost from the program.
68% of 51精品视频 Success grants benefit Pennsylvania residents.听听听
30% of students at the University鈥檚 regional campuses are Pell recipients.
$11,172: the average grant size, including both the match and the federal Pell Grant.
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鈥 Nichole Faina