Trio - student support services-disability improves the retention and graduation rates of students with disabilities who may also be low-income and first-generation college students

The Office of Postsecondary Education awarded Metropolitan State University a Project Grant of $272,364 under the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program (CFDA 84.042), effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. This award funds comprehensive support services designed to enhance retention and graduation rates for students with disabilities who may also be low-income and first-generation college students. The program delivers targeted interventions including academic support, financial literacy counseling, and student success coaching to improve postsecondary education outcomes and facilitate student progression through higher education.

As a public higher education institution, Metropolitan State University will utilize this federal funding to provide integrated support services on its St. Paul, Minnesota campus that directly address barriers to persistence and completion for disadvantaged student populations. The Student Support Services program represents part of the Department of Education's broader federal TRIO initiative, which operates on a five-year grant period with continuation awards made annually based on demonstrated progress toward project objectives and available funding.