Portland State Grant Boosts Transfer Student Success

The $7.9 million award expands coaching and job-readiness support for transfer students to help them complete degrees.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Financial Aid

Gouache-painted illustration of two pathways merging into a bridge, symbolizing the academic journey of transfer students in a university setting. — Portland State University received a $7.9 million federal grant to expand its Academic and Career Coaching for Excellence program for transfer students. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Portland State University has received a $7.9 million federal grant to expand its Academic and Career Coaching for Excellence (ACCE) program. The funding aims to improve degree completion rates for community college transfer students by providing enhanced coaching and work-based learning opportunities.

Why it matters

While 80% of community college students intend to earn a bachelor's degree, only 15% successfully obtain one, often due to financial barriers and transfer shock. This federal investment aims to narrow that gap by providing students with structured support during their transition to a four-year institution.

Portland State University received a $7.9 million grant to bolster the ACCE program, which launched in 2024 to support transfer students. The funding will support the Work-Based Learning Fund, providing internships and apprenticeships for students transferring from partner institutions.

The players

Portland State University

A public four-year university in Portland that received the grant to support transfer student success.

U.S. Department of Education

The federal agency that co-funded the $7.9 million grant to support student degree completion.

U.S. Department of Labor

The federal agency that co-funded the $7.9 million grant for workforce development and internships.

The details

The program helps students bridge the gap between two-year and four-year schools by connecting them with academic coaches at their community college before they transfer. Once at Portland State, students receive ongoing coaching, TriMet transit passes, and event-based support to help them acclimate to the downtown campus environment. An external evaluator will track the program's processes and the effective utilization of grant funds to ensure goals are met.

The ACCE program was originally launched in 2024.
The federal grant announcement was published on October 30, 2026.

Education Landscape

This initiative attempts to improve outcomes in a higher-education landscape where transfer students frequently face significant barriers to graduation. It follows a pattern of targeted federal investment designed to improve institutional retention for students navigating the transition between community colleges and four-year universities.

If you are a student at a local community college, you may gain access to additional coaching and internship opportunities as the ACCE program expands. Contact the Portland State University admissions or financial-aid office to inquire about eligibility for coaching and work-based learning support.

The takeaway

This grant highlights the critical need for structured support during the transition from two-year to four-year institutions. Students should ask their current academic adviser if their community college participates in the ACCE coaching network.