Michael E. Cheever, Executive Vice President, Strategy and External Affairs at College Success Foundation
The traditional belief that a college degree is a guaranteed path to success has deep roots in society. For decades, it was widely accepted that earning a degree was a ticket to upward mobility—a surefire way to secure a stable, well-paying job and build a better life.
The formula was simple: work hard in school, graduate with a degree, and doors would open to opportunities and prosperity. College was seen not just as a place for academic learning but as a critical investment in one’s future, providing a return in the form of career advancement and financial security.
The education boom took off after World War II when the GI Bill of Rights made higher education accessible to millions of veterans, transforming college from an elite privilege to a mainstream opportunity. This revolution continued with the Higher Education Act of 1965 further broadening access, especially for women and minorities.
While this holds true, the path to success is growing more challenging. Approximately 50 years ago, significant economic shifts reshaped college access and education. A reduction in public investment in higher education led to a sharp increase in tuition costs, making the journey to success more difficult. Grants that had once helped many afford college were gradually replaced by loans, leading to increased student debt. As family incomes fell and borrowing increased, the pathway to success through a college degree became more difficult, making higher education less of a guarantee for upward mobility and more of a financial burden for many Americans.
Unfortunately, educational costs have been climbing for decades, far outpacing general inflation rates and putting an exorbitant strain on families and students. For example, between 1980 and 2020, the cost of attending a four-year college in the U.S., including tuition, fees, room, and board, increased by more than 1,200%, while the overall inflation rate rose by about 236% in the same period.
This discrepancy highlights a troubling trend: the cost of higher education has ballooned far beyond the increase in general consumer prices, wages, or cost of living. For many families, this means taking on substantial debt to finance a degree.
This stark rise in costs has fueled a growing narrative questioning whether college is worth the financial burden. Students and families are weighing the benefits of a college degree against the realities of student loan debt and uncertain job prospects. As graduates face years or even decades of repayment, the question of value becomes more urgent: Is the potential for a higher salary and career advancement worth the financial risk?
Compounding the challenge of access is the complexity of navigating a college or university, which can feel like traversing a vast and intricate ecosystem. The enormous scale of these institutions presents significant obstacles; with thousands of students, locating the appropriate person or department to handle issues such as financial aid, career counseling, and academic advising can be overwhelming. This often exacerbates anxiety and erodes confidence, compounding the administrative difficulties. Despite the wealth of resources available, the sheer size of the institution can impede the delivery of timely and personalized support.
As if rising tuition costs and the complexity of navigating college weren’t challenging enough, addressing students’ basic needs has become an increasingly critical issue. More than half of college students face food insecurity, 45% deal with housing insecurity, and 9% are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These statistics reveal a pressing problem that extends beyond the financial strain of tuition and fees. Students are struggling to meet essential needs crucial for their well-being and academic success. The escalating cost of living and education pressures are pushing students into vulnerable situations, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive support systems that address not just tuition but also the broader challenges of securing fundamental necessities.
As these challenges continued to escalate, further exacerbated by the worldwide pandemic, the College Success Foundation (CSF) responded by significantly expanding our college support program. With the backing of financial contributors, legislators, and state agency partners, we were able to substantially increase the scope, scale, and impact of our services.
CSF now employs a team of over two dozen college staff members either stationed on campuses or supporting students remotely at over 50 colleges across Washington state. This team serves thousands of students statewide.
Certified in the FSM 7 Life Domains coaching model, our coaches offer free, one-on-one guidance to all college students, with a particular focus on first and second-year students—a critical time for student retention. Our coaches take a holistic approach, working with students to set goals and establish accountability practices in various life domains, including: finance and employment, housing, physical and mental health, supportive relationships, cultural and personal identity, life skills, and education. In addition to providing personalized support, our coaches help students access Emergency Fund Requests to address unexpected financial challenges and stay on track to succeed.
In addition, to provide students with easy and efficient access to their coaches, CSF developed an online platform that allows students to quickly identify, connect with, or schedule appointments. This streamlined process helps reduce the burden on students. While we are still relatively early in deploying this expanded model, the results are promising:
An independent evaluation by the Research Triangle Institute found that:
- 92% of students said their coach played a role in their persistence.
- 88% of students said their coach taught them how to find support or resources.
- 96% of students reported growth in knowledge, skills, and awareness.
There are a couple of reasons why we embraced such significant growth and increased responsibility. First, data clearly indicates (as depicted below) that job security—a crucial element of achieving the American Dream—is increasingly tied to an individual’s level of educational attainment. This obviously does and will have profound effects on our economy.
The second reason is a moral imperative. As a society, we have unintentionally made college more difficult to access and navigate, whether through rising costs or bureaucratic complexities. This has places undue burdens on students who aspire to higher education. We, as a public, have a responsibility to ease these barriers, ensuring that every student has a fair opportunity to thrive. By alleviating these obstacles, we enable students to fully develop and leverage their unique talents, allowing them to reach their potential and contribute meaningfully to our communities.
We invite you to join us on this journey to support every student possible. To partner, support or learn more, visit us at: https://www.collegesuccessfoundation.org/.
