Equitable Outcomes

In most U.S. colleges and universities, students of color and those from low-income backgrounds experience outcomes lower than the average, including graduation rates and rates of bachelor’s degree attainment after transfer from community colleges. These and other well-documented inequities in higher education outcomes translate into differences in career, health, and other life outcomes and prevent colleges from fully developing the talent in every U.S. community. The Aspen College Excellence program encourages institutions to regularly assess disparities in student outcomes (including learning, completion, transfer, and workforce) and devise concrete strategies for achieving high and equitable levels of student success for students of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and other students whose success rates require attention. By improving these students’ outcomes and closing equity gaps, institutions can improve the post-graduation prospects for students and contribute to better college attainment and post-graduation success for students nationally.