Kaplan Leadership Program Achieves 92% Bachelor's Degree Rate for Underserved Community College Students

The Kaplan Educational Foundation's 18th cohort of Kaplan Leadership Program scholars has secured admissions to highly selective four-year institutions, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in addressing educational equity gaps. Established in 2006, the program provides high-potential, low-income community college students with comprehensive support including extensive tutoring, academic advisement, leadership training, and living stipends to facilitate successful transfer and bachelor's degree completion.

This year's scholars gained admission to more than 25 top schools nationwide, with acceptances including Columbia University, Yale University, Brown University, Princeton University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The cohort represents diverse backgrounds including non-traditional age students, recent immigrants, and first-generation college students, highlighting the untapped potential within community college populations.

The program's 92% bachelor's degree attainment rate stands in stark contrast to national data from the Aspen Institute showing that only 16% of community college students who intend to transfer actually earn a bachelor's degree, with even lower rates for students from low-income families. This disparity underscores the critical importance of targeted support programs for underserved student populations.

Executive Director Nolvia Delgado emphasized the program's commitment to removing barriers and providing greater access to higher education for motivated individuals. The foundation's success has attracted additional funding, including a recent three-year grant from the Ichigo Foundation to establish a Community College Bridge Program targeting high school students from underserved communities.

The Kaplan Leadership Program's holistic approach addresses both academic and financial challenges that often prevent community college students from completing four-year degrees. By providing comprehensive support services and financial assistance, the program enables students to focus on their academic goals without the burden of overwhelming financial pressures. For more information about the program, visit http://www.kaplanedfoundation.org.

The continued success of the Kaplan Leadership Program demonstrates that with proper support structures and resources, students from underserved backgrounds can not only access elite higher education institutions but also excel within them. The program's model offers valuable insights for addressing educational inequities and improving transfer success rates nationwide, providing important lessons for educational institutions and workforce development programs seeking to create more equitable pathways to degree completion.