Fund the Future Now
Start NowFrom Debt to Opportunity
Fund the Future Now is a youth-led campaign by the NAACP Youth & College Division fighting to make college affordable, accessible, and free from lifelong debt. Across the country, students are navigating rising costs, limited financial aid, and the reality of taking on debt just to pursue an education.
Grounded in national research and driven by student voices, this campaign is about turning that frustration into action. From expanding financial aid to advancing debt-free college pathways and investing in HBCUs, we are pushing for real solutions that meet the needs of this generation.
This is about more than access, it's about power. Young people are not just impacted by these issues, we are leading the fight to change them.
Rising Student Debt
The current student loan debt crisis is crippling individuals and families across the United States, with a total of $1.7 trillion in outstanding student loan debt.
Our Priority States
These priority states were chosen based on the opportunity to invest in youth and college initiatives to improve access to higher education. Key metrics include the percentage of state residents who are Black, the cost of tuition at the state's median price point, the number of HBCUs, and more.
What We're Fighting For
Learn more about the policies that advance our goal for affordable college for all.
We are demanding bold investments in tuition-free community college, debt-free public higher education, and expanded need-based aid. This is about more than affordability; it's about equity, opportunity, and ensuring that every person, regardless of background, can pursue their dreams without being buried in debt. The future we're fighting for is one where degrees open doors, not create financial barriers.
- Tylik McMillan, National Director, Youth and College
Fighting the Assault on Education
The cost of college continues to rise for students as federal funding decreases. Cuts to financial aid, limits on borrowing, and reductions to safety net programs all make college affordability harder for students. All of these policy changes exacerbate existing racial inequities in higher education and pose significant barriers to wealth accumulation.
Barriers to Financial Stability
Federal Pell Grants, which covered more than 75% of public college costs in the 1980s, now cover just 28%, reflecting a significant decline in grant-based support and increased reliance on student loans
Our Student Bill of Rights
Take Your Advocacy Further
To advocate for college affordability within your community, use our toolkit and research to inform activists in your area to become advocates for a debt-free education.