CollegeBound Initiative Schools

Our CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) model supports students in grades 6-12 on their path to college and success after high school by creating college-bound cultures in schools, thereby increasing college enrollment and completion rates. Dedicated, full-time school-based counselors provide hands-on support to build early college and career awareness, as well as individualized support throughout the college application process.

A student holding flyers stands at a table with informational materials about equitable college counseling, speaking to a woman at an event or fair.

CBI students, don’t question IF they’ll go to college, but WHERE.

The CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) program empowers students to realize their higher education and career potential by placing full-time directors of college counseling (DCCs) in high-need public schools. CBIโ€™s DCCs maximize studentsโ€™ college awareness, access, and financial aid awards. CBI students graduating from our partner high schools achieve four-year college degrees at a significantly higher rate than their national peers.

We combine intimate knowledge of our students and trusted connections with a diverse network of colleges, enabling us to optimize college placement and maximize financial aid. Our comprehensive approach creates a culture of success in each of our partner high schools. And the results are clear โ€“ we have decades of demonstrated success in increasing the college enrollment and attainment rate for students from underserved communities.

Additionally, our alumni benefit from support from our College Persistence services to aid with the transition from high school to college and to help them cross the college graduation stage. CBI combats college attrition by accessing and partnering our graduates with support programs at various colleges (e.g., NYS Opportunity Programs, CUNY ASAP, Bottom Line, Posse Scholars, etc.). The financial aid, structure, and support that these programs offer ensure our students have a smooth transition to and through college.

2X

Our students earn
college degrees at
double the rate of
their peers nationally.

A graduate in cap and gown smiles while holding a Skidmore College diploma and diploma cover, proud to be part of the Student Leadership Network.

$1B

Since 2001, our graduates have secured nearly $1 billion in scholarships and financial aid.

A person smiles and points to a red hoodie with a wolf logo and the words Stony Brook University on the front, showcasing their excitement for college preparation through high school programs.

Zaniya
CollegeBound Initiative Class of 2024

[My director of college counseling] was a great help; she helped me apply to SUNYs, CUNYs, and the Common App. I only got rejected from one school out of the 13 I applied to. She helped me write my college essayโ€ฆshe told me things that I didn’t want to hear but I needed to hear because if she didn’t I would have gotten stuck in a school I didn’t want to go to and I’m really grateful to her for doing that.

CBI works with every student at our partner schools to ensure they can obtain – and afford – a college education.

The Latest

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    Finding My Way: Navigating College as a First-Gen Student

  • A young man wearing a white shirt, light green tie, and black shoulder bag enters a school building

    From Applicant to Advocate: Inside the Life of a Student Turned College Transition Coach

  • Three graduates in white gowns and caps smile at a ceremony, holding flowers, a diploma, a stuffed bear, and balloons in the background.

    Beyond My Comfort Zone: How My College Counselor Helped Me Imagine a Different Future

Join Us in Driving Educational Equity!

Want to help us remove barriers to the educational opportunities all students deserve and learn more about how weโ€™re closing the degree divide across the country?