Historically Black Colleges and Universities have long been on Zaria Miller's radar. But her home state of Michigan doesn’t have one.

Miller enrolled at Washtenaw Community College, and while searching online for campus events, she stumbled upon its HBCU Pathway program. The effort is designed for community college students wanting to transfer to HBCUs. As it turns out, Washtenaw is not the only community college creating such pathways.

The University of Chicago is what Youssef Hasweh calls his "dream school." Over the past four years, he's tried to make it a dream school for others, too, as part of his work as a student ambassador.

Now, as commencement season continues, Hasweh is one of many student protesters around the country who face disciplinary action. With less than two weeks until graduation, his academic future remains in limbo.

Photo: Robyn Vincent

Perriel Pace is among many students in limbo across the country because of the rocky rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Despite fixes, the system continues to exclude some students. Others, like Pace, managed to fill out and submit the form, but still, they wait.

In Detroit, these challenges are testing the resilience of vulnerable young people who are already facing barriers to higher education. It is a roadblock that looms large in a city where just 17 percent of residents hold a college degree.