College affordability doesn’t end with tuition, and for many students, hidden financial barriers can be the difference between stopping out and graduating. In this episode, we explore how financial gaps, aid complexity, and basic needs insecurity impact student retention, particularly for Pell-eligible and first-generation students. Leaders from the University of South Carolina share a suite of innovative, cross-campus initiatives designed to remove these barriers; from micro-grants and debt relief to food security, fee transparency, and first-gen support. This conversation highlights how intentional, collaborative approaches to affordability can improve completion, advance equity, and ensure more students cross the finish line.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kris Bliss from Indiana Tech University to explore what it truly means to take a holistic view of students, and why breaking down data silos is essential to student success. Drawing on her experience, the conversation highlights how centralized student information, collaborative data practices, and both qualitative and quantitative insights can enable earlier, more effective interventions. From creative stopgap solutions like shared spreadsheets to the long-term vision of a comprehensive data warehouse, this chapter shows that institutions don’t need perfect systems to start doing better work for students.

In this episode we visit with Dr. Solomon Tention, Assistant Professor of Advanced Studies, Research, & Leadership at Morgan State University. We talk about how intentional outreach and proactive advising can bring stopped-out students back to the finish line. Through Project Graduate, a targeted “nudge” campaign at a large Texas community college, leaders re-engaged former students who were close to completion and provided the advising, degree planning, and financial guidance needed to help them return and persist. The conversation highlights the power of data-informed outreach, cross-campus collaboration, and intrusive student success strategies; resulting in meaningful gains in re-enrollment and completion.