America has a rich tradition of service dating back to the early years of our country. The depth and breadth of American service efforts has expanded notably since the Great Depression. Civic, non-profit, and governmental organizations and agencies – such as The Corporation for National and Community Service, which manages AmeriCorps and Senior Corps – have implemented community service projects and programs focused on improving the quality of life for millions of people. Read More

Educators, researchers, advocates, and policymakers nationwide are increasingly attentive to the educational experiences of rural students and the need to expand college access and success in rural communities. Thanks to this increased attention, there is more and more information available about the state of rural education, college access and success challenges, and the resources and services that rural students need. Read More

Across the country, advocacy organizations, funders, educators, and policymakers are devoting significant resources to efforts designed to increase the rate at which students and families complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Read More

Here at College Success Arizona we often talk about the importance of helping more young people in our state go to college and complete a high-value certificate or degree program. We focus on attainment because it represents a powerful way for Arizonans, their families, and their communities to increase their economic stability and mobility. Read More

High school students across Arizona are in the process of deciding where they will attend college in the fall. Many will enroll in community colleges to pursue a certificate or an associate degree.
Others will enroll at one of the state’s public universities with the goal of earning a bachelor’s degree. Read More

In January, we held our 13th Annual Leadership Symposium for our Success Services Program. This day-long student conference consisted of motivational speakers, workshops, and networking. This year, students heard from one of our communities’ greatest influencers, Gonzalo de la Melena, Jr., President & CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Read More

The federal government is the single largest source of financial aid for college. Access to federal financial aid helps to increase college access, affordability, and, ultimately, attainment in Arizona. After all, most students cannot afford to pay the full “sticker price” for a college education. Read More

After hearing Governor Ducey’s priorities for 2019 in the State of the State, College Success Arizona offers its support and partnership to “do the things that matter.” Read More

As I reflect on my childhood experiences growing up in Superior, I think about the people who helped shape my interest in education. My earliest recollection of thinking about college came in third grade, when my teacher asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I said that I wanted to become a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer. Read More

Phoenix, Arizona – Today, College Success Arizona released a new report, How Information and Opportunity Gaps Limit College-Going in Rural Arizona, that examines barriers that rural students in Arizona—many of whom are Latino, low- income, or first-generation students—face in learning about their education and career options after high school. Read More

Any parent will tell you that in parenting there are moments of horror sprinkled in between those
peaks of pride. Parenting is not for the weak of heart, but if you’re lucky enough to get the job, it
can be the most rewarding. Read More

The Hechinger Report recently published an article highlighting our national failure to sufficiently fund financial aid programs intended to help low-income students afford the cost of college. Due to insufficient funding and slashed budgets—and, in some states, aid programs that have been suspended entirely—hundreds of thousands of students who apply and qualify for need-based financial aid are being turned away due to lack of funds. Read More

My name is Marjorie DeRubeis, Director of Partnership Development and Success Services. Read More

The enduring popular concept of what it means to go to college sends young people the message that they’re not “college material” if they’re not interested in, or able to attend, a four-year college or university. To counter this narrow and sometimes elitist image of higher education, we must build a college going culture in our communities that is inclusive and that promotes higher education in its many forms as a desirable and attainable goal for all young people. Read More

As the labor market becomes increasingly dependent on skilled workers who have at least some education beyond high school—whether that means an associate or bachelor’s degree, or a professional credential—student success in college is as important as it has ever been. Regrettably, though, large numbers of students in the United States do not have access to higher education opportunities. Read More

As members of the Arizona community, we all understand the significant connection between a highly educated workforce and improving the state’s economy. As an essential strategy of that effort, the idea of increasing our state’s postsecondary attainment rate (the percentage of adults who hold a high-quality credential, certificate or degree) is gaining steam among a number of state education and business leaders. Read More

Higher education is becoming more stratified: Many affluent students do very well in college, while most middle- and low-income students struggle to attend at all or, if they go, to complete a degree. College Success Arizona understands that increasing college graduation rates across the state means creating opportunities for and enhancing the chances of completion, particularly for Latino and low-income students. Read More