College Possible was founded because far too many college-capable low-income students fail to earn admission to college and complete their degree.   

Unmet Needs of Low-Income Students
A student from an upper income family is ten times as likely to earn a college degree as a low-income student. According to Postsecondary Education Opportunity, 82 percent of students from the top income quartile earn a college degree by age 24 compared to 8 percent of low-income students. 

This trend has been widely identified not only as a fundamental problem of injustice, but also as a factor that will inhibit our country's ability to compete in the global economy in the years ahead.

By providing low-income students with both the guidance and the basic tools necessary to compete effectively, College Possible has demonstrated that its program can dramatically improve students’ chances of earning a college degree. To date, 98% of our students have earned admission to college and nearly 80 percent have graduated or are persisting towards their degree.

Unmet Needs of Colleges and Universities
Colleges and universities are very interested in admitting students from low-income backgrounds, but often have difficulty identifying and attracting them. On one hand, these schools want to see such students reap the rewards of attending their schools. On the other hand, they recognize the value that economic and racial diversity adds to the educational experience of all their students.

Need for an Educated Workforce
A Georgetown University study found that by 2018, 63 percent of all jobs will require at least some postsecondary education. That's a requirement of 22 million new workers with postsecondary degrees and a predicted shortfall of three million workers. This translates to a deficit of 300,000 college graduates every year between now and 2018.

In an increasingly diverse and global economy, the economic stability and competitiveness of the United States requires a highly educated workforce. By helping more low-income students earn a college degree, College Possible is laying the foundation for a strong and diverse future workforce.

Need for More Teachers, Guidance Counselors and Youth Workers
Given demographic trends, experts estimate that the United States will need hundreds of thousands of new teachers over the next few years. By providing college graduates, many of whom may become teachers, guidance counselors and youth workers, the opportunity to serve as our AmeriCorps members, College Possible provides valuable “service learning” to the next generation of teachers, guidance counselors and youth workers.