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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.Pitt was awarded $489K through TRIO Student Support Services
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University’s Pittsburgh campus with a federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant totaling $489,444 annually for five years to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income and first-generation students, and students with disabilities.
This award marks the continuation of 53 years of TRIO SSS services on the Pittsburgh campus. Since 1972, the program has served more than 13,000 students, helping them stay in school, earn degrees and build meaningful careers.
Through individualized services including academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling and mentoring, TRIO SSS empowers students to overcome barriers to success. These comprehensive supports make it significantly more likely that students will complete their degree or successfully transfer, with the lowest possible debt.
Nationally, the SSS program has a proven track record. According to a rigorous 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, students in SSS at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year school, and SSS students at four-year institutions were 18% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree compared to peers not in the program.
For more information about TRIO SSS at Pitt, mml52 [at] pitt.edu (contact Michele M. Lagnese).
Expanding access to higher education
If you have academic promise, you belong here, regardless of your financial situation. The University of Pittsburgh has launched several other affordability efforts in recent years including the Kessler Scholars Program, Panthers Forward, Pittsburgh Public Scholars, the Pittsburgh Admissions Collaboration, Pitt Fund$Me, the Coalition for College and Raise Me.