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Decrease drop-out rates of college students through Emergency Bridge Funding

Decrease drop-out rates of college students through Emergency Bridge Funding

Emergency Bridge Funding provide funds for students when minor financial crises arise. This is especially critical for students from low-income households who might not have extra resources available.

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Why This Matters

For some students, all it takes is one financial emergency before they’re forced to drop their postsecondary education.

A flat tire.

One bad case of the flu.

A parking ticket.

With no safety net, their dreams of receiving a certificate, credential, or degree are over.

Receiving a credential after high school is more important than ever.

Young adults in Central Texas who don’t earn a postsecondary credential within six years of leaving high school have just a 12% chance of earning a living wage.

Data & Trends

The rate of students from low-income households continuing into a second year of postsecondary education is lower than students from non-low-income households.

One in four students from low-income households do not persist into their second year of postsecondary education.

Data

Central Texas

Disparities exist in postsecondary persistence to the second year. The greatest disparities exist for Black students from low-income households.

Percent Central Texas high school graduates enrolled in Texas Postsecondary Institutions that persist into second year, Class of 2021

Students from low income households persist in postsecondary less than students from not-low incomes. Male students persist less than female students.

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of Texas Education Agency and THECB data at The University of Texas at Austin Education Research Center

Data

Central Texas

Students from low-income households persisted into their second year of postsecondary less than their peers.

Postsecondary Persistence, 2021 Central Texas High School Graduates who Enrolled in Postsecondary Within One Year of Graduation, by Household Income

Students from low-income households persist into their second year of postsecondary 76% in 2021, compared to their peers from not-low-income who persisted 88%

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of Texas Education Agency and THECB data at the Education Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin

The Promising Practice

Emergency Bridge Funding provides monetary aid to Central Texas college students who experience an unexpected emergency or financial hardship. Emergencies like this could impact their ability to stay in school. By providing students fast tracked grants, they can stay focused on their education.

Data

Central Texas

Emergency Bridge Grants provide funds for students to ensure support when minor financial crises arise.

The Long Foundation, in combination with other funders, helped award over $160,000 in Emergency Bridge Funds to more than 300 Central Texas students during the previous four academic years.

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Improve higher education persistence with an Early Alert System

See how two universities used data to create a personalized system to identify and support students who may need a little extra help.