Ranking Member Scott Releases New Report on Barriers to Graduation

Ranking Member Scott Releases New Report on Barriers to Graduation

WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released a new report titled "Unlocking Student Success: Addressing Barriers to College Completion."

Getting into college is not the only hurdle students most overcome. For millions of Americans, the harder part is crossing the finish line. At the start of the 2023-2024 school year, roughly 37.6 million working adults ages 18 to 65 had enrolled in college but had not earned a degree. This new report identifies that barriers are often about non-academic barriers like basic needs, not academic ability. For example, in 2020, 23 percent of college students experienced food insecurity, but less than half of SNAP-eligible students report receiving benefits.

"Instead of bending to the political pressures to attack higher education, Congress must prioritize policies to help students succeed in higher education. By leveraging the findings of robust college access and student success research, policymakers can make informed decisions to fund evidence-based best practices that improve college completion rates," said Ranking Member Scott.

The good news is that we know what works. The report highlights evidence-based practices, including holistic advising, emergency grant aid, and child care for student parents, and calls on federal policymakers to develop frameworks to scale these student support services, even as the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans roll back federal resources that help students succeed.

As Congress looks ahead to make reforms to the Higher Education Act, the report urges lawmakers to protect and expand student success programs so that every student who starts college has a real chance to finish and earn the degree that opens doors to a stronger career and a more stable future.

To read the full report, click here.

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