Low Income to High Outcomes
How a Degree from Florida Atlantic Positions Students to Rapidly Move Up Income Brackets
While a college education continues to provide opportunities for higher salaries and greater job satisfaction, many students face barriers when it comes to degree attainment. One of the most significant hurdles is financial means, with cost of attendance cited as a very important factor preventing enrollment, according to a 2022 Gallup poll. This issue also has a tremendous impact on enrolled students, who list cost as a top reason for pausing or discontinuing their studies.
Low-income and first-generation students face a particular disadvantage, both in terms of their ability to pay tuition and in navigating misperceptions about costs and financial aid processes. Encouragingly, studies show a positive correlation between financial literacy, retention and degree completion.
At Florida Atlantic — where more than 30% of students are first-generation and nearly 40% are considered low income — financial literacy training comes in many forms to ensure student success from start to finish. In fact, Pell-eligible students outpace the University’s overall retention and graduation rates, and Florida Atlantic’s undergraduate students complete their degrees with 11% less student loan debt than the national average. Additionally, 83% of low-income students move up at least one income bracket within a year of graduating, as measured by graduating senior surveys compared to family income at first enrollment. As a result, U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida Atlantic No. 26 in the nation for social mobility. FAU also is No. 50 in the nation for graduates with the least debt, No. 21 for Pell grant graduation rates and No. 38 for first-generation graduation rate performance.
“These accomplishments are the outcome of strategic efforts,” said FAU Provost Russell Ivy, Ph.D. “The keys to improving retention and graduation rates with financial literacy initiatives are early intervention and ongoing support. Immediately equipping students with fiscal knowledge and resources empowers them to make academic progress more confidently and efficiently.”
As early as the admissions process, potential students receive valuable financial support, such as one-to-one FAFSA sessions. Upon enrollment at Florida Atlantic, students are assigned a Success Network, which puts them in direct contact with a student financial aid counselor. In addition to guidance about paying for college, students gain access to a wealth of personal financial resources. This includes a comprehensive Financial Wellness Program, which covers a range of essential topics from funding sources and employment options to budgeting and emergency planning. For those further along in their studies, debt management tools and advanced resources are available to help them achieve optimal academic and fiscal outcomes.
“Many of our students come from low-income and first-generation backgrounds, and college provides a way for them to transcend cyclical poverty and diminish the wealth gap for future generations,” said Tamsyn French, director of financial aid and student success. “We carry a distinct responsibility to assist our students through their academic journey and help them develop practical life skills to utilize throughout their lifetime.”
“Many of our students come from low-income and first-generation backgrounds, and college provides a way for them to transcend cyclical poverty and diminish the wealth gap for future generations.”
Beyond financial literacy, it’s important to provide a well-defined path to career fulfillment. A robust Career Center, replete with career coaching and company partnerships, is just the beginning at Florida Atlantic. An excess of 4,000 registered student internships highlights the way Florida Atlantic prioritizes opportunities for students to achieve balance in their studies while building toward their future. Pathways to high-demand careers in fields such as biotechnology, health care and cybersecurity also provide confidence in job attainment and security upon graduation.
The Florida Atlantic Biotech Bridge program in the University’s Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CMBB) is one of the newest and most innovative pathways designed to connect students with industry experts and career opportunities. The CMBB was established in 1997 to prepare students for life sciences careers and to support the local biotech industry.
With more than 700 businesses in the University’s service area specializing in biotechnologies, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, companies are engaging with Florida Atlantic Biotech Bridge to offer distinct student internships that lead to a lifetime of success.
“We have seen a 100 percent success rate of employment for all program graduates,” said David Binninger, Ph.D., founding faculty member of the CMBB. “The demand for these graduates is undeniable.”
Another field with high demand is nursing, and Florida Atlantic’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is working to address critical shortages with highly skilled, workforce-ready graduates. Students gain hands-on experience through a variety of academic service-learning opportunities, including those at the college’s two FAU/NCHA Community Health Centers in West Palm Beach and the Louis and Anne Green Memory & Wellness Center on the Boca Raton campus. These facilities benefit the community by addressing health inequities for families who otherwise could not access quality care, while preparing students for careers as competent and compassionate nurses.
The success of the college is evident in its 95% retention rate and 87% four-year graduation rate for students in the “freshman direct” track. Additionally, nearly 100% of low-income students who graduate from the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing move up at least one income bracket within a year of graduating.
Florida Atlantic’s College of Engineering and Computer Science also boasts a high rate of social mobility, with 98% of low-income students moving up at least one income bracket within a year of graduating. The college’s CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service is one program that propels students into lucrative careers — while filling critical, high-demand positions in cybersecurity across the country.
Funded by a $2.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the program provides students with full scholarships, as well as training that prepares them for competitive employment in the cybersecurity workforce. Following graduation, recipients are required to work for a government organization for two years. At the dynamic intersection of AI and cybersecurity, students in the program contribute to national security while reaping the benefits of world-class training and career assistance.
Ultimately, an institution of higher education must deliver a worthwhile return on investment to provide value for its graduates. By assessing and addressing the barriers to retention, degree completion and gainful employment, Florida Atlantic has closed the gap between access and excellence — redefining the value of a college degree for generations to come.
Learn more about how Florida Atlantic is leading the way in transformational student impact by visiting fau.edu/atlantic-effect.
This content was paid for and created by Florida Atlantic University. The editorial staff at The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.
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