NCII has developed — and is actively promoting — a new approach to understanding and ensuring student financial stability.
Student financial stability means that students are financially secure across their higher education journey. Colleges that foster student financial stability are intentional about helping students:
- Cover college costs, such as tuition, books, supplies, materials, and fees.
- Address basic needs, including housing, food, child care, technology, transportation, health care, mental health, and utilities.
- Make informed choices about their education and career so their decisions improve their economic and social mobility.
Acting on student financial stability has educational and career benefits for students as well as retention and return on investment benefits for colleges. NCII regularly partners with individual colleges and system-level initiatives such as Michigan Building Economic Stability Today (MI-BEST) and California Guided Pathways to integrate student financial stability into broader redesign efforts.
NCII also regularly fields questions from educators grappling with this complex issue of supporting the whole student, and the need has only intensified as colleges work to close gaps in outcomes for different student groups. The Student Financial Stability Resource Series can help colleges begin or expand efforts to improve this holistic support strategy on their campuses. The College Profile Series features colleges that are making student financial stability an institutional priority and explains how this work improves their students’ experiences.