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

The Kaplan Educational Foundation is celebrating the success of its 18th cohort of Kaplan Leadership Program scholars, who have gained admission to highly selective four-year institutions across the country. This achievement highlights the program's effectiveness in addressing educational equity gaps for underserved student populations.

Established in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program provides comprehensive support to high-potential, low-income community college students, including extensive tutoring, academic advisement, leadership training, and living stipends. This holistic approach facilitates successful transfer and bachelor's degree completion for students who might otherwise face significant barriers to higher education.

This year's scholars gained admission to more than 25 top schools nationwide, including prestigious institutions such as 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, demonstrating the untapped potential within community college populations.

The program's remarkable 92% bachelor's degree attainment rate stands in stark contrast to national data from the Aspen Institute, which shows that only 16% of community college students who intend to transfer actually earn a bachelor's degree. The disparity is even more pronounced for students from low-income families, underscoring the critical importance of targeted support programs.

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 comprehensive approach addresses both academic and financial challenges that often prevent community college students from completing four-year degrees. By providing support services and financial assistance through http://www.kaplanedfoundation.org, the program enables students to focus on their academic goals without overwhelming financial pressures.

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, serving as a blueprint for other organizations seeking to create meaningful change in educational access and outcomes.