Sometimes doing the right thing pays off for everybody. That’s the gist of new findings in a report from the Equity Policy Academy. The study, which was sponsored by the Lumina Foundation and the University of Southern California Center for Urban Education, was looked at whether helping poorly served students in higher education helps the public at large.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it does.

In a recent article on Medium, Gretchen Syverud of the Lumina foundation writes that an approach that centers on equity, where minorities are supported to reach the same outcomes (not just opportunities). In short, states that want to increase the number of people with postsecondary education should be focusing on those who have been underserved, the report concludes.

The approach centers on five central tenants:

Know your state—data will help craft targeted policy changes
Build a careful process—Foresight and a consistent strategy are key.
Craft a strong message—Go forward with a strong vision.
Know what works—Identify existing organizations that are making real progress.
Make your plan a living document—Build in ways to change and improve your program as time passes.