Case Study
How SUNY Buffalo State Reduced Finance-Related Stress and Improved Persistence Through Roar 2 Success
Financial plan completion
Reduction in finance-related stress
Higher persistence rates among financial plan completers
Need-based funding issued to close gaps and prevent stop-out
Introduction
Buffalo State University has enrolled a growing population of first-generation and low-income students, many of whom require more support navigating financial decisions during the transition into college. While the institution had existing financial education content within summer seminar programming, it was not consistently translating into student readiness or behavior change. Student-facing teams, including retention coaches, were often the primary point of contact for students experiencing financial strain, despite lacking specialized financial aid expertise. Buffalo State partnered with Arbol through the Roar2Success initiative to implement a scalable financial planning workflow, strengthen referrals to campus resources, and target intervention earlier for students at risk of stopping out.
The Problem
Buffalo State University saw rising financial complexity among incoming students, particularly within first-generation and low-income populations. Many students did not understand the full cost of attendance or how to budget for major expenses like housing and food.
This uncertainty created predictable patterns:
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Some students overborrowed using refund checks and still experienced financial shortfalls later
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Some underfunded their expenses and entered the term without a viable plan to pay their bill
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Students lacked clarity on what actions to take and which resources were available to help
While Buffalo State included budgeting and financial aid content during summer seminar programming, the content alone was not sufficient to ensure students had an actionable plan or the ability to follow through.
In practice, retention coaches became the default support point for students in financial distress. However, they were not financial aid specialists and did not have the tools or time to consistently diagnose and address financial barriers, especially when problems emerged late.
Buffalo State needed a scalable way to move students from awareness to action while improving the institution’s ability to identify and intervene with students experiencing financial risk.
The Solution
Buffalo State partnered with Arbol to operationalize financial readiness through the Roar 2 Success initiative. The approach centered on structured planning, early identification of risk, and streamlined connection to resources.
1) Cohort-based financial planning workshops
Arbol delivered 30-minute workshops designed to ensure students built a financial plan that clarified:
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cost of attendance and expected expenses
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available resources and funding
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specific tasks needed to stay on track financially
The objective was to move beyond budgeting concepts and ensure students left the session with a plan they could execute.
2) Stronger connection to campus departments and support
The program created a clearer pathway for students to engage with relevant campus teams based on their need, including financial aid and other departments. Students were routed more effectively to the right resources rather than relying on informal referrals or last-minute problem solving.
3) Early detection and targeted intervention
Arbol used engagement data and completion signals to identify students who were struggling to complete key tasks or showed early signs of financial risk. These students were flagged for follow-up and intervention, allowing staff to respond earlier and with more context.
4) Faster access to resources and targeted funding
Students who had a financial gap and required direct support were connected to need-based resources and interventions more efficiently, including the deployment of need-based funds to close gaps that otherwise could have resulted in attrition.
The Results
The Roar2Success initiative delivered measurable improvement in student readiness, persistence, and staff burden.
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74% of students completed a financial plan
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Students who completed a plan had an 8% higher persistence rate
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40% reduction in student-reported financial stress after completing a plan
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$25,000 in need-based funding issued to close financial gaps and prevent attrition
For Buffalo State, the program provided a scalable workflow that strengthened student financial preparedness and reduced the degree to which retention coaches had to serve as financial triage.
Why it Matters
Key Takeaways for Student Success Leaders
1) Financial education is not enough without a planning workflow
Students may understand budgeting concepts but still lack a viable plan to cover real expenses.
2) Persistence improves when financial risk is detected early
Engagement and completion signals help institutions intervene earlier and more effectively.
3) Student success teams need structured support to navigate financial barriers
Retention coaches are often the first to hear about financial stress, but they need a workflow that connects students to the right resources.
4) Need-based resources are most effective when paired with planning and targeting
Funding prevents attrition when it is deployed in response to a defined gap and paired with student action.
SUNY Buffalo State
Services we provided:
- Structured financial plan completion sessions for incoming students
- Risk and engagement indicators to prioritize follow-up and outreach
- Intervention routing across student success, financial aid, and support teams
- Need-based funding enablement to prevent stop-out due to financial gaps