A constant challenge facing educators is to determine the best ways in which to motivate students to succeed. A recent collaboration between JFF, Persistence Plus, and several community colleges explored the use of “behavioral nudges,” or short personalized messages, to promote student success. Barbara Endel, Senior Director at Jobs for the Future, Jill Frankfort, Co-Founder and President of Persistence Plus, and Aaron Weiss, an Instructor at Lorain Community College in Ohio discuss the use of behavioral nudges as well as results of a large research trial showing a 10% gain in academic success when STEM students receive such messages.