In January 2020, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and The University of Texas at Austin launched a historic partnership to close the gap in college graduation rates across income levels. Through this partnership, the two organizations expanded individualized support services for Pell‑eligible students through the UT for Me – Powered by Dell Scholars program, serving students who began their college journey at UT Austin as first‑time freshmen between Fall 2020 and Fall 2025.
While financial support was critical, closing the graduation rate gap required more than financial assistance alone. UT for Me provided ongoing, individualized support to Pell‑eligible undergraduate students who entered UT Austin as first‑time freshmen between Fall 2020 and Fall 2025. The program was designed to help students with significant financial need succeed at UT Austin and graduate ready to change the world.
The mission of this public-private partnership was to raise six-year graduation rates for Pell-eligible students at UT Austin from 73% to 90%. This 10-year commitment covering academic and other support began in the fall of the 2020-2021 academic year.