Structural Equity: Big-Picture Thinking & Partnerships That Improve Community College Student Outcomes

While access to higher education has expanded for low-income students and students of color, their rates of completion or transfer to four-year universities remain low and slow to improve. This report explores how four successful community colleges have built robust, cross-sector partnerships to create seamless educational pathways for students. It highlights three specific strategies these institutions have used to dismantle structural barriers that contribute to success gaps along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. The Lumina Foundation supported the development of this guide.