Removing Barriers to College Access & Success

Higher education is pivotal in creating opportunities for individual growth and advancement. Yet, for many, racialized and economic barriers hinder college access and success. We must identify and dismantle these barriers, ensuring that every student, regardless of background, can achieve their greatest academic and professional goals.

EdTrust-West is dedicated to eradicating barriers faced by California’s students of color in higher education – ensuring equitable access to financial aid, expanding dual enrollment opportunities for Black, Latinx, and Native students, and addressing the racial inequities in remedial education.

What We We're Working On

Enhancing College and Career Preparedness

We’re working on ensuring that students are ready for college and the diverse career opportunities that await them, bridging the gap between K-12 education and higher education.

Facilitating Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment programs can be a game-changer for students, allowing them to experience college-level coursework while still in high school, paving the way for a smoother transition to higher education.

Ensuring Equitable Course Placement and Completion

It’s time for California to fully transition away from traditional remedial classes, which have been shown to delay degree completion, especially for students of color, and towards supportive placement and instructional models that accelerate student progress and improve retention in college. We must ensure students have a clear and unobstructed path to achieving their academic goals.

Streamlining Financial Aid Access

Financial constraints should never be a hindrance to education. Improving access to financial aid aims to make higher education affordable for all students.

By the Numbers

of Black students graduate from high school eligible for a UC or CSU​.
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In 2018-19, around one in three Black 12th graders (29%) in California did not submit a financial aid application.
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In the 2021-22 school year, just 43% of Latinx students graduated high school with A-G requirements completed, compared to a 61% A-G completion rate of non-Latinx graduates.
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