º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø

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Let’s Go.

º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø helps Chicago students succeed from high school through careers.

º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø is a nonprofit organization that helps Chicago high school students get into college, graduate, and launch meaningful careers. Through mentoring, college advising, financial support, and career development programs, º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø supports thousands of first-generation and underrepresented scholars on their path to long-term success.

Impact

58% of º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø Alumni earn more than their household income when they were in high school

86% of º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø graduate with $40,000 or less in student loan debt, compared to 55% of Black students and 81% of Latinx students

76% of º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø graduate within 6 years of college matriculation, compared to 56% of Chicago Public Schools alumni.

7,200+ º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø since the first class in 1996

69% of º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø Alumni return to Illinois after they finish college.

577 Scholars admitted to the Class of 2030, representing all 77 neighborhoods

FAQ
How does º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø help students get into college?

º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø provides personalized mentoring, college counseling, and college and scholarship application support for more than 900 Chicago high schoolers each year. Through partnerships with dozens of colleges nationwide, we ensure that every Scholar finds a college that meets their personal needs, is an academic match, and is a financial fit.

Who can apply for º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø?

º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø is open to juniors in high school who have a 3.0 GPA or higher and live and attend school within the Chicago city limits. Scholars typically will be the first in their family to go to college in the United States or come from a low-income household. 

Some exceptions are possible — please contact us at highschool@chicagoscholars.org to learn more.

Can º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø help me if I don’t meet the application requirements?

Yes! º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø is proud to offer assistance for all students through our online learning platform, REACH. REACH gives free access to college access and career development quests to any student with a Gmail address.

Learn more at reachpathways.com.

Does º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø offer scholarships?

º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø has partnerships with colleges and scholarship providers that can help Scholars fund their education. We also offer assistance in finding and applying to third-party scholarships.

Through our program, over 80% of Scholars graduate with less than $40,000 in student loan debt.

What makes º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø different from other programs?
º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø offers long-term support—from high school through college and into careers—combining mentoring, advising, and career development. We offer support and programming that often lasts for seven years or longer. 
After completing the º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø program, Alumni join a network of nearly 8,000 Scholars and Alumni in industries and universities across the country.
Get Involved

Invest in our Work

We can’t build a brighter future for Chicago without the financial investment of our community. Join the thousands of Chicagoans who said yes to tomorrow’s leaders!

Become a Mentor

Mentors provide guidance during Scholars’ first two years in the program — and often become lifelong friends. Learn more about the application process here.

Volunteer

º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø holds several huge events every year, but we couldn’t pull them off without our volunteers. Learn how you can help out on these life-changing days here.

Join Our Team

Want to join the Dream Team? Our staff come from a wide variety of backgrounds and fields of study. Find our open full- and part-time positions here.

º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø

in Action


Our Scholars and Alumni are our strongest advocates. Learn more about our programming from the people who know it best.