College

Our support of students doesn’t end on their high school graduation day. We stick with them throughout their college careers, often working with campus-based student support staff at our partner colleges to ensure students have the best possible chance of earning that degree. Depending on the college they attend, students will receive in-person coaching on campus or technology-based coaching.

Ongoing individualized support through graduation with our partner colleges includes

• Connection to campus resources and opportunities
• Ongoing financial aid coaching
• Developing study skills and self-advocacy

Our commitment to students means we are always seeking new ways to reach more students, piloting innovative program models to reach students beyond our six sites through virtual and blended approaches. Coaches utilize tools such as texting, video chat, document-sharing and social media to build connections with students and work with them to achieve their goals. In two states, Minnesota and Oregon, we have piloted a technology-based program in rural communities.

We are a proud partner organization of CollegePoint, a nationwide initiative with Bloomberg Philanthropies. CollegePoint helps students from lower-income families apply to, enroll in and graduate from top-performing colleges.

In 2016, College Possible launched a new partnership model called Catalyze, which was born out of the belief that our innovative approach to increasing college success for low-income students could be embedded on college campuses and scaled to serve many more low-income students. Catalyze has a capacity-building focus, rather than direct service, which will enable colleges and universities to use the proven College Possible model to support their low-income students from matriculation through graduation.

• College Possible graduate at nearly the rate of all other college students, regardless of income level. (52% vs. 58%)
• COLLEGE POSSIBLE students have contributed to the increasing diversity of college campuses.
• In 2016-17: + 25% African American or African Immigrant + 22% Asian + 22% Hispanic/Latino
• + 11% Unspecified/Other + 10% White + 7% Multi-racial + 3% American Indian/Alaskan Native
• College graduates are 24% more likely to be employed and 3.5 times less likely to rely on public assistance.
• College graduates earn $1 million more in their lifetimes.
• By 2020 America will need 5 million more college-educated workers to remain competitive.