College Success Foundation Alumni Survey Demonstrates Long-Term Impact of Its Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bellevue, WA – February 26, 2025 – As College Success Foundation (CSF) marks its 25th anniversary of empowering students to access and succeed in college, a new alumni survey highlights the positive impact CSF has had on individuals and their communities.

Since its founding in 2000, CSF has gradually expanded its presence across the state, with its reach now extending to over 24,000 students served across Washington state annually. Today, the organization partners with 11 middle schools, 28 high schools and approximately 62 colleges to help increase enrollment, persistence and graduation rates for college education. As of this school year, CSF will celebrate more than 13,000 college graduates.

“The recent alumni survey findings underscore the transformative power of CSF’s programming,” said James Dorsey, CSF President & CEO. “We see the academic achievements of our students daily, but this survey reinforces our overall goals for our students and alumni and the broader, long-term benefits of post-secondary education.”

Survey Highlights:

• Alumni are achieving financial stability: CSF alumni are breaking the cycle of poverty. Sixty-five percent of alumni earn $60,000 or more annually, while 42% earn $80,000 or more.

“CSF supported me with a community that made anything seem possible. I saw other people like me getting their graduate degrees, so I decided to get one too. Because of CSF, I’ve broken generations of poverty and am so excited to see the endless opportunities my daughter has in front of her. I grew up in a household in the bottom 10% of incomes. Now, I earn in the top 5%, and I’ve been able to spread that wealth to my community while ensuring my daughter will never want like I did.” Read CSF alum Sophia’s story.

• Confidence in college: Eighty-five percent of alumni reported that CSF helped strengthen their belief that college was possible, while 74% noted that CSF increased their general knowledge of higher education. Additionally, 76% said that CSF bolstered their desire to attend college.

“College Success Foundation staff mentored me through those early years and connected me with other youth who had experienced foster care. Thank you for helping youth who have experienced foster care know that college is possible, and they deserve to be there.” Read CSF alum Codie’s story.

• Ongoing community impact: Seventy-six percent of CSF alumni continue to live and work in Washington state. Nearly half (49%) remain in the county where they graduated high school. More than 70% of alumni have volunteered or donated to nonprofits in the past year, illustrating their commitment to giving back.

Read about how CSF alums Ashley and Keisha were recognized as leaders in their communities.

• Creating generational change: CSF alumni prioritize higher education for their children. Eighty-nine percent believe their children will attend college, and 72% are already actively saving for their children’s education.

About College Success Foundation

College Success Foundation is a national nonprofit that coaches and supports students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to prepare for and graduate from college as transformational leaders in order to forge a just and equitable society. CSF serves students in public middle schools and high schools and colleges throughout Washington state and the District of Columbia. Learn more at collegesuccessfoundation.org.