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HESAB: 558‑response survey finds financial hardship and childcare impede college persistence; students propose resource hub and financial literacy
Summary
The Higher Education Student Advisory Board presented a statistically significant, 558‑response survey showing 54% of respondents cited financial hardship as a reason to consider leaving college; HESAB recommended a Higher Education Resource Hub, expanded financial literacy and improved outreach to make city services more accessible to students.
Jonah Carmine Espinosa and Victoria Shipley presented results from the Higher Education Student Advisory Board’s January–April 2025 survey and related analysis to the Education Opportunities Committee.
Espinosa said the survey collected 558 responses and was statistically representative across San Antonio demographic groups. He noted that roughly 59.7% of respondents identified as first‑generation college students and 60% reported Pell‑grant eligibility; 52.7% felt scholarships and grants were not accessible to them. Espinosa said 38% of respondents had considered or had dropped out within the previous two years; financial hardship (54%), mental health (44%) and family responsibilities (39%) were the top reasons cited for stopping out.
HESAB proposed a set of recommendations including a Higher Education Resource Hub to centralize student services and supports, integrating financial literacy into city‑supported scholarships and outreach to increase awareness of existing programs (for example, the Financial Empowerment Center and Café College). The board also urged exploring child‑care expansions and summer bridge programming to support persistence; HESAB highlighted that 71.7% of student parents in the survey said childcare resources would help them remain enrolled.
Councilmembers asked whether the 558‑response sample was proportionally representative across institutions; Espinosa said 16 San Antonio institutions were represented but could not confirm proportionality without additional analysis. Members discussed opportunities to leverage city programs such as Ready to Work emergency childcare and to increase campus outreach by existing city services.
HESAB recommended ongoing surveys, focus groups and expanded data collection to refine recommendations. Committee members thanked the board for the analysis and asked staff to consider bridging programs and awareness campaigns as part of city collaboration with colleges and universities.
