San Diego Mesa College Awarded $1.76M TRIO Grant to Support Student Equity and Success

July 26, 2025

The U.S. Department of Education has granted San Diego Mesa College $1,762,655 over five years through the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to boost retention and graduation rates among disadvantaged students. The program provides individualized services such as academic tutoring, financial guidance, and counseling to help students overcome barriers to education success. SSS has demonstrated significant effectiveness, with participating students at two-year colleges being 48% more likely to earn degrees or transfer compared to non-participants.

Who is affected

Low-income students
First-generation college students
Students with disabilities
San Diego Mesa College students eligible for the program

What action is being taken

The U.S. Department of Education is providing $1,762,655 ($352,531 annually over five years) to San Diego Mesa College
TRIO SSS is offering individualized services including academic tutoring, financial aid guidance, scholarship assistance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring
The program is working to increase retention and graduation rates among eligible students
The TRIO SSS program is helping students complete their degrees or transfer with minimal debt

Why it matters

The program significantly increases the likelihood of students completing their degrees or transferring
SSS students at two-year colleges are 48% more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution
Students at four-year institutions are 18% more likely to earn a bachelor's degree compared to similar peers not in the program
The program helps remove academic, social, and cultural barriers to higher education
Since 1968, SSS has helped millions of students graduate and contribute to their communities and the economy

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint