Too many students in our community are getting left behind in their pursuit of higher education. Half of the students in Santa Barbara’s public school district live below poverty level, and in 2021, only 41% of low-income high school seniors graduated with the minimum requirements needed to enroll in a UC or Cal State university. Mission Scholars seeks to level the playing field, providing high-performing, underrepresented students access to the same level of support that their wealthier peers receive. When our Scholars flourish, so does our community.
Founded in December 2018, Mission Scholars provides college admission and financial aid expertise, college mentorship, and career development training to underrepresented students in South Santa Barbara County. A Mission Scholar student receives seven years of comprehensive, wrap-around support, from sophomore year of high school through college graduation.
Only 11% of first-generation college students graduate by age 24. Our comprehensive approach is what is needed to not just ensure college admissions success, but to help our Scholars thrive in college and graduate with a secured professional path. As a result, 92% of our Scholars are on track to graduate college within four years.
Each Mission Scholar receives:
