College Access & Success

Student Leadership Network’s college access programs are a critical first step toward closing what is commonly referred to as the income-based “degree divide,” the gap in college attainment between students from high-income families and those from low-income backgrounds. Our college success programs help students navigate the roadblocks they encounter on the road to and through college, ensuring they have the support and resources to succeed. Our college access model is currently being implemented at 50 schools nationwide, impacting nearly 80,000 students.

Student giving teacher high five.

Core Pillars

College Matters

At Student Leadership Network, we know college matters as a critical lever to multigenerational prosperity. We also know how to get students to their best-fit college and prepare them to succeed there. Our programs create a college-going culture in under-resourced high schools and help students gain access to and succeed in college by focusing on four core areas

Students gather around a table with a UConn husky logo, reading pamphlets and discussing opportunities with a representative at an event inspired by the NCAN Conference in the gymnasium.

Early College & Career Awareness

Access to college and career counseling as early as 6th or 9th grade.

A woman stands and speaks to a large seated group in a cafeteria decorated with international flags, sharing insights about college access.

Family Engagement

Educating and connecting with parents to build a strong support network for our students.

People sit at tables in a library while presenters lead a FAFSA workshop focused on college access. A screen displays information and decorations include balloons and yellow and blue tablecloths.

Financial Aid Support

Comprehensive financial aid counseling and planning with students and their families.

High school students and their parents and guardians tour University of Virginia as part of the college trip experience.

Experiential Learning

Opportunities to participate in pre-college trips, summer programs, and other hands-on engagements to familiarize students with college life.

Unlocking Pathways to College and Beyond

All students deserve a fair chance to pursue their educational dreams. We make it possible.

Through our comprehensive college access and success model, we support students in grades 6-12 on their journey to higher education and leadership.

From dedicated directors of college counseling (DCCs) embedded in schools programs that build the capacity of school systems to improve their post-secondary success outcomes for every student, our hands-on approach transforms student expectations, reshapes school cultures, and helps ensure long-term success—including college graduation.

With our support, students don’t just get to college—they thrive there.

The Latest

  • Three young women pose and smile outdoors in front of a college building during a summer program for first-gen students and other rising seniors in high school

    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

CollegeBound Initiative Schools

Our full-time dedicated directors of college counseling (DCCs) support college awareness and access for grades 6-12. See our impact in NYC, Buffalo, and Rochester.

College Access Consulting Services

Through customized support services, we equip educators and students with the tools, strategies, and resources to achieve lasting impact. 

District Sevices

Expand college access across your district with our professional learning communities and collaborative networks for counselors. We also provide strategic support for city-wide initiatives that empower students and families on their path to higher education.

Join Us in Driving Educational Equity!

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

Partners