Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has supported Funding U, a lender offering last‑gap, merit‑based loans to low‑income students without co‑signers, following a personal story about a college loan that nearly forced her to drop out. Scott’s move aligns large philanthropic capital with for‑profit experiments aimed at closing financing gaps for under-resourced students. Scott’s $19 billion‑plus giving record and targeted investments in student finance amplify pressure on universities to revisit emergency aid and bridge‑fund models. Researchers and student‑affordability offices will watch how mission‑aligned capital affects student retention and access. Higher education leaders should track outcomes from Funding U and similar pilots to assess repayment performance, equity impacts, and potential partnerships with financial‑aid offices.