The nation's public universities--a key vehicle of upward mobility--must do more to even the playing field for all students. As it currently stands, students from the least advantaged populations earn degrees at a lower rate and are burdened with a greater portion of debt than their peers. However, some standout public universities are reversing these trends by committing to need-based funding, offering successful student support programs, and providing institutional leadership. This issue brief examines three such universities--the University of California, Riverside, or UCR; the University of South Florida Tampa campus, or USF; and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, or UNCC--and assesses some of the policies behind their positive outcomes. All three of these high-performing schools increased their percentages of Pell Grant recipients at significantly higher rates over the same period, compared to just an 8 percent increase for the average four-year public university. Additionally, they have minimized graduation gaps across demographics while also increasing overall graduation rates. Based on interviews with relevant staff from each university, this issue brief details some of the actions behind the positive results.