National College Attainment Network

National College Attainment Network 🎓 Let's create a nation where all students can access higher education. We're the National College Attainment Network.

Drawing on the expertise of hundreds of organizational members in nearly every U.S. state, NCAN is dedicated to improving the quality and quantity of support that underrepresented students receive to apply to, enter, and succeed in postsecondary education.

06/08/2026

Deadline EXTENDED for NCAN’s 2026 Awards of Excellence‼️

Nominations now close this WEDNESDAY (June 10) at 11:59PM EST, and we don’t want outstanding college attainment professionals, organizations, and partners to go unrecognized!

These awards honor the individuals and institutions driving student success and helping close equity gaps in postsecondary attainment. Winners will be celebrated at the 2026 NCAN National Conference this October.

If you know a colleague, organization, or partner making a lasting impact for students, now is the time to nominate them at the link below.

ICYMI: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has ta...
06/08/2026

ICYMI: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has taken an important step toward addressing the funding shortfall, providing a $50 increase to the maximum award and more than $15 billion to stabilize the program.

But there’s a catch: the bill would eliminate subsidized federal student loans, a move that could increase student debt by an average of $6,000 per borrower and make college less affordable for students with the greatest financial need.

While NCAN is encouraged by continued bipartisan support for Pell, funding for college access shouldn't come at the expense of the tools students rely on to stay enrolled.

Read our full analysis and what’s next at the link in the comments below. ⬇️

🤖 How can strengthen college advising while keeping human relationships at the center?In a new interview with NCAN, Co...
06/07/2026

🤖 How can strengthen college advising while keeping human relationships at the center?

In a new interview with NCAN, College Possible's Scott del Rossi shares how the organization developed Coach Possible, an AI-powered platform that provides students with 24/7 support while helping advisors focus on what matters most: building meaningful connections with students.

Read how College Possible is leveraging AI, data, and human expertise to scale support and improve student success outcomes at the link below.

06/06/2026

Recently, the U.S. Department of Education issued final regulations for the Workforce Pell Grant program.

Starting July 20, 2026, the new rules take effect, with early implementation permitted as early as July 1. College advisors are going to need to know how to advise students considering these short programs. They may be a good choice for some students, but as we wrote late last year, for most recent high school graduates, an associates or bachelors degree may offer a surer path to long-term career success.

đź“ť The Workforce Pell Grant program is not a separate program, but an expansion of the existing Pell Grant program.

📝 Students who have a bachelor’s degree are eligible to receive grants. However, students who are accepted to a program for graduate credit or have a graduate credential are not eligible to receive funds.

📝 Any Pell Grant funds utilized in an eligible workforce program will be calculated into a student’s Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU).

This expansion of the Pell Grant program represents a new opportunity to support college affordability and workforce-focused educational pathways with effective counseling and guidance.

Read the full article linked in the comments.

06/05/2026

Grant funding is a key driver of expanding college access and supporting student success. Recently announced higher education grant programs from the US Department of Education could influence which institutions receive funding and how they serve students.

Jessica Blake at Inside Higher Ed reports on new information from higher education funding experts detailing federal changes to higher education grant competition review processes, including the peer review model and federal agency oversight.

These changes could have significant implications for college access programs, including the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), TRIO, and the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), which play an important role in supporting student success and college affordability.

Read the full article linked in the comments.

06/05/2026

ICYMI: NCAN recently hosted its 2026 Spring Institute in April and May, a 4-part professional development series designed to help college access and attainment practitioners navigate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support students. 🎯

The series featured four 90-minute sessions with a progressive curriculum covering AI foundations, responsible and ethical use, and tools such as NotebookLM, GPTs, and GEMs.

The initiative reflects growing interest in helping college access and attainment organizations explore how generative AI can aid their work to support students and families.

Read the full article linked in the comments.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) has ta...
06/04/2026

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) has taken an important step toward addressing the funding shortfall, providing a $50 increase to the maximum award and more than $15 billion to stabilize the program.

But there’s a catch: the bill would eliminate subsidized federal student loans, a move that could increase student debt by an average of $6,000 per borrower and make college less affordable for students with the greatest financial need.

While NCAN is encouraged by continued bipartisan support for Pell, funding for college access shouldn't come at the expense of the tools students rely on to stay enrolled.

Read our full analysis and what’s next at the link in the comments below. ⬇️

06/04/2026

Thank you to our partner NASFAA for spreading the good news on the high school class of 2026 setting an all-time high FAFSA completion rate! 🎯

Financial administrators play a vital role in helping the students NCAN members serve succeed in college.

Read more at the link below.

Improving Transfer Outcomes is essential to student success. Transfer pathways are a common journey for many students, b...
06/03/2026

Improving Transfer Outcomes is essential to student success.

Transfer pathways are a common journey for many students, but too often, students lose credits, time, money, and momentum along the way. The good news? There are emerging tools and advising practices that can help change that.

This on June 10 at 2 PM ET will equip practitioners with practical strategies and resources to to advise students on the most effective path to completion.

Learn more & register today: https://bit.ly/4d4TUu9

06/03/2026

Time is running out to submit a nomination for NCAN’s 2026 Awards of Excellence! ⏰

Nominations close THIS FRIDAY (June 5) at 11:59PM EST, and we don’t want outstanding college attainment professionals, organizations, and partners to go unrecognized.

These awards honor the individuals and institutions driving student success and helping close equity gaps in postsecondary attainment. Winners will be celebrated at the NCAN 2026 National Conference this October.

If you know a colleague, organization, or partner making a lasting impact for students, now is the time to nominate them.

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