LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas has joined a national effort to help students from low-income families graduate.

The university announced Tuesday that it and 10 other schools have formed the University Innovation Alliance. The group will work to find ways to help low-income and first-generation college students.

The alliance says studies show students from wealthy families are seven times more likely to graduate from college than low-income students.

Other members of the group include Arizona State, Georgia State, Iowa State, Michigan State, Oregon State, Purdue, Ohio State, University of California-Riverside, Central Florida and University of Texas-Austin.

The alliance has raised $5.7 million from major private funders.