Students today are navigating an increasingly diverse array of postsecondary pathways. The traditional route from high school to a four-year college is no longer the only option. So, where are students going? At EdTrust, we analyzed data from the past five years to better understand emerging trends in postsecondary and career pathways. We found that although two-year universities have historically been open access for all students, especially first-generation students and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and enrollment in certificate programs is on the rise, these students are increasingly enrolling at four-year public institutions.   

Unfortunately, another EdTrust report highlighted significant disparities in four-year degree attainment across various demographic groups. The reason? Many colleges and universities don’t adequately support their diverse student populations. This underscores the crucial role of programmatic support and intervention strategies that aid in academic success. Amid the shifting higher education landscape, it’s more important than ever to highlight programs that not only are responding to the changing landscape but also drive meaningful outcomes for historically underserved students. 

Given what we know about recent enrollment trends and the link between a bachelor’s degree and social mobility — not to mention the proposed cuts to many federal support programs — it’s increasingly important for states, nonprofits, and other organizations to fill the gap and support students as they move to and through college. One organization addressing this need is Thrive Scholars. Thrive Scholars utilizes proven interventions to increase access, persistence, and completion rates for under-resourced students who meet their achievement criteria.   

Meet Thrive Scholars 

Thrive Scholars is a nonprofit organization that provides high-achieving, under-resourced students with the opportunities they need to succeed at top colleges and pursue meaningful careers. Eighty-five percent of Thrive’s scholars are first-generation college students from households with an average family income of less than $45,000, and 80% identify as Black or Latino, though the program is open to all under-resourced students who meet the achievement criteria. The program’s primary goal is to facilitate upward mobility for its scholars by providing six years of holistic support. During this time, scholars participate in two summers of intensive academic preparation and programming that focus on the critical skills needed for college and career success. They also receive one-on-one coaching in the college admissions process, transitioning to college, and industry-specific career development. As a result, Thrive Scholars has impressive college enrollment and attainment outcomes: 100% of participants enroll in top-tier four-year colleges, with 48% attending the top 20 colleges on the Forbes 2025 list. Scholars earn an average GPA of 3.4, and 80% graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four years, while 99% graduate within six years. 

Tracking Outcomes  

To help ensure that its scholars achieve economic mobility, Thrive tracks success beyond college completion, diligently monitoring graduates’ economic success, autonomy, and sense of belonging — in alignment with the Urban Institute’s three dimensions of upward mobility. Data from the past few years shows that Thrive’s most recent graduates are securing meaningful first-destination career placements at higher rates (almost 80%), with much higher starting salaries ($75,000) and significantly lower loan debt burdens (52% graduate without loans, and the average debt for those with loans is less than $8,000), than typical graduates with similar backgrounds. Their graduates also say they feel good about their futures, according to survey data: They graduate with a sense of belonging in their communities and a sense of control over their lives. This, in addition to their financial success, positions them to thrive in their careers and communities over the long term.  

Early Support for First-Generation Students  

While bachelor’s degree programs are the leading postsecondary pathway for students — particularly for students of color — degree attainment for Black and Latino students still lags behind the national average, as noted in EdTrust’s pathways brief. This persistent gap highlights the importance of programs like Thrive Scholars, which play a crucial role in supporting under-resourced students by improving access to high-quality education and increasing college completion rates as they navigate longstanding systemic barriers. 

Thrive Scholars gets good outcomes partly due to the early support it provides through summer programming. The two six-week sessions of intensive academic programming that scholars attend — one before their senior year of high school and the other before their first year of college — build a solid foundation. Scholars participate in math and writing courses, taught by experienced professors who model a rigorous, college-level learning environment. In addition to academic coursework, scholars engage in college and career programming tailored to their individual needs. This includes guidance on navigating the college admissions process, transitioning to college, and making early career decisions that boost long-term economic mobility. After implementing Summer Academy programming in 2012, Thrive found it to be impactful for those who attended. The average scholar’s GPA rose from 2.9 in 2012 to 3.3 in 2018, and the STEM persistence rate increased from 20% to 65% over the same period. The average first-year college GPA is now 3.4, and the average STEM persistence rate is 80%.

This early college success is crucial for scholars to persist in college, graduate, and achieve personal and professional success. Importantly, though, Thrive doesn’t stop at measuring early outcomes; the organization aims to ensure that its scholars receive every opportunity to attain the economic mobility that higher education can deliver through their integrated approach in supporting students.

As a result, 79% of Thrive Scholars’ graduates overall secure meaningful first-destination career placements (including 81% of Thrive Scholars’ Latino graduates and 82% of its Black graduates). Thrive Scholars’ graduates begin their careers with an average starting salary of almost $75,000. More specifically, Latino students earn an average of $64,000 annually, while Black students earn $93,000 annually. Thrive Scholars’ intervention strategies not only offer academic support that improves economic mobility but also foster a sense of autonomy and belonging by building supportive social networks — 63% of their students reported having at least three strong professional connections.  

Success Starts With Student Data 

This promising support model could be emulated by direct service providers at universities and nonprofits, guiding them on which data to track for evaluating student achievement — beyond just grades and graduation. Tracking student data, such as job placement rates, enrollment, and completion, is essential for assessing the return on investment and value of higher education. Examining interventions like Thrive Scholars shows that student-facing support and data infrastructure can help identify and address gaps to improve student outcomes. To advance student success, higher education leaders and federal policymakers should contextualize each state’s data rather than relying solely on broad findings and national trends to establish more targeted and specific goals based on the needs of the most vulnerable students. Finally, utilizing state attainment data alongside enrollment data could also help them design more effective policies and practices that can be implemented by direct service providers.