Key Takeaways:
- A majority of careers require an associate or bachelor’s degree.
- High tuition costs and limited resource access make it difficult for students from low-income households to go to college.
- Several organizations advocate for change, provide mentorship, and offer resources to improve college access for low-income families.
Due to the high cost of college, fewer resources, and other factors, students from low-income households have less access to higher education. Across the United States, numerous organizations are dedicated to advocating for students from low-income households and helping them pursue the education they deserve. They review school policies, partner with students, identify scholarship opportunities, reward good grades, and advocate for equal opportunity. Below, we’ve highlighted just seven incredible organizations that have a passion for equality, college success, and bright students.
The Facts
College degrees are more important than ever. LinkedIn found that just over 70% of paid job offerings require at least an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. While this has actually dropped since 2019 (it was nearly 80%), there’s no denying that a majority of companies want college graduates.
In addition, those with a bachelor’s degree earn over 1.5x more than those with a high school diploma. This table breaks down some 2024 weekly earnings and unemployment rates from the U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics (BLS):
| Degree | Median Usual Weekly Earnings | Unemployment Rate |
| Total | $1,221 | 3.3% |
| Doctoral | $2,278 | 1.2% |
| Professional | $2,363 | 1.3% |
| Master’s | $1,840 | 2.2% |
| Bachelor’s | $1,543 | 2.5% |
| Associate’s | $1,099 | 2.8% |
| Some college, no degree | $1,020 | 3.8% |
| High school diploma | $930 | 4.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | $738 | 6.2% |
However, getting into, paying for, and graduating from college is also no easy task. It can be even more difficult for students in low-income households.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students from low-income households are more likely to attend community colleges and for-profit institutions, which often have lower graduation rates than other institutions. In California, “those from low-income families are only about half as likely to enroll in a four-year college as their higher-income peers.”
The high cost of college is partly to blame for fewer students from low-income households enrolling in college. A single year costs around $38,270 per student in 2025. And, on average, student borrowers have $38,375 in federal student loan debt. However, cost is only part of the entire picture. students from low-income households also tend to have limited access to resources and face systemic disadvantages.
7 Organizations That Help Students from Low-Income Households Go To College
These 7 organizations seek to improve access to college for all through scholarships, research, policy change, and more.
1. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOOLS (EOS)
Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) works towards making sure students have more opportunities to enroll in advanced courses. They promote communication between teachers and students, increase access to Advanced Placement (AP) classes and career-prep coursework, provide outreach tools, improve participation in the classroom, and offer consultants to help schools succeed.
In one county, EOS saw a 9% increase in participation in 2023, and over 1,000 more students were expected to enroll in advanced courses that year.
2. EDTRUST
EdTrust promotes policy, research, practices, and advocacy that help students from low-income households and students of color have greater access to college. By analyzing local, state, and national data, the organization takes a hard look at opportunity gaps, aiming to close them. Some current campaigns focus on early literacy, representation in books, Black student debt, and math.
3. QUESTBRIDGE
QuestBridge connects high school seniors to top colleges and universities in the United States. The QuestBridge National College Match helps students from low-income households apply, gain admission to, and afford the nation’s most selective schools. At the moment, they have over 55 college partners.
QuestBridge also offers the College Prep Scholarship for juniors to help them get a head start on applications and the Quest for Excellence Awards to encourage and reward academic success.
4. NATIONAL COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK
The National College Access Network (NCAN) aims to improve first-generation, underrepresented, and students from low-income households access to higher education. They assist more than 2 million students and families each year. NCAN focuses on several pressing issues, such as rising tuition costs, confusing college and financial aid applications, and the lack of resources for qualified students. They’re also dedicated to accelerating college completion, improving loan counseling, and standardizing financial aid award letters.
5. IMENTOR
iMentor works with its partner schools to match juniors and seniors with mentors. Mentors then help their students navigate the college application process and the first year of college. Students can choose to stay with the program until they graduate with their degree. The program also focuses on building life-long skills, such as critical thinking, self-advocacy, and curiosity.
6. ONEGOAL
OneGoal, as its name suggests, has a singular mission – to make college graduation possible for all students. A teacher-led organization, they hire, train, and support dedicated teachers who wish to help low-income, under-performing students reach their full potential. OneGoal’s website states that 80% of their high school graduates enroll in a pos-secondary institution, with a 72% first-year college retention rate.
7. COLLEGE POSSIBLE
College Possible is dedicated to helping students from low-income households succeed through ongoing, personalized coaching and support from high school to college graduation. Students meet with their coaches in after-school sessions, attend campus tours and summer programs, and have access to resources to help them apply for colleges, financial aid, and scholarships. It’s completely free to students and their families, and even if the student pauses their education, College Possible continues to provide support.
Other Resources
These are only a handful of the many amazing organizations in the United States that help low-income and underrepresented students gain access to and better afford college. Some only operate in select areas, while others, such as QuestBridge, are on a national scale.
We recommend working with your high school guidance counselor, academic advisor, or college advisor to learn more about the resources available to you. To lower the cost of college, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), learn about state grants, and apply for scholarship opportunities.
We can help you start finding scholarships you qualify for with our Scholarship Search Tool, including merit- and need-based awards. Start applying today.
I think this is an all some way to help people like us, my son and daughter wants to go to college and it kills me that I don’t have the money to send them. this is a good way to make women like me feel really good about my kids education. thank you all so much.
Need help applying for college
Hello, Dewayne! We have many helpful articles in our College Guide: College Application section. The posts can cover anything from how to craft the best application essay, to creating a college list, to the pros and cons of different application methods. Hopefully you can find some answers there! If not, please let us know what you need help with and we will try to assist you as best we can!
My son is a student-athlete that is getting letters for unofficial visits. Are there programs out there that will help him find resources to travel to do these unofficial visits
I can highly attest to the success of Questbridge, as I am a recipient of the scholarship and through the application I learned more about the educational opportunities available to lower-income students.
I have a friends daughter who has got excepted. She received some loans but not enough. She has to pay a large amount before she can start. She already paid for her acceptance fee. Which is nonrefundable. She really wants to go to this college
I want someone to help for my studies
Doing a school project, here is the description: Create a foundation that will help low income families send their children to college. You will need to understand how grants/scholarships work. Be able to determine what is considered low income. (7th grade) Any ideas?
I am 64 years old and attending Walden University in their PhD program. My GPA is 4.00 and I have no more money left to finish. Can you give me some information to find money to finish. I want to use my degree to help others reach their goals.