In the complex and often daunting college admissions process, underserved students — particularly those who are first generation, low income, and from other underrepresented backgrounds.— face significant hurdles.
Since its inception in 2012, College Greenlight has emerged as a critical platform addressing these barriers, offering a unique bridge between students, counselors, community-based organizations (CBOs), and higher education institutions. Through its innovative model, College Greenlight, a subsidiary of education consulting firm EAB, connects students with opportunities and resources that have proven vital to improving enrollment and success rates among these populations.
A Comprehensive Support Network
At its core, College Greenlight’s mission is to make college more accessible by filling critical gaps in information, support, and opportunity. The platform serves over half a million students, more than 1,500 CBOs — including schools — and 15,000 guidance and academic counselors across the United States. By connecting these groups, College Greenlight facilitates a collaborative effort that improves the odds of first-generation and low-income students gaining access to higher education.
One of the ways this is achieved is through a robust network of partners. More than 200 colleges and universities work with College Greenlight to connect with high-achieving underrepresented students. These institutions leverage the platform to build recruitment pipelines, diversify their applicant pools, and promote diversity initiatives. Winners of the 2024 Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.are among those that have embraced the platform to foster equity in college admissions.
“At a time when economic uncertainty takes an increasing hold in communities across the country and institutions lack the resources to expand their reach to — and support of — more talented students, the progress the field has made in areas of college access and success is at risk,” wrote Jonathan April, the managing director of College Greenlight, in a joint report with the American Talent Initiative. “Our colleges require additional assistance now more than ever to realize a longstanding imperative; both as a part of their individual missions and for the public good.”
Addressing Barriers to College Enrollment
For many first-generation and low-income students, navigating the admissions process can be overwhelming. Complex application requirements, financial aid processes, and a lack of clear guidance often create additional roadblocks. College Greenlight seeks to address these challenges by providing personalized college recommendations, a scholarship database, and detailed application assistance. These tools are essential for those who may not have access to comprehensive college counseling services at their schools.
Moreover, the platform’s connections to CBOs help to close gaps in support. CBOs often serve as trusted intermediaries, providing the hands-on support that students need to successfully complete and submit their applications. These organizations play a crucial role in helping students apply for financial aid, prepare for standardized tests, and explore their college options. College Greenlight enhances these efforts by curating lists of CBOs that align with specific recruitment goals, allowing colleges to tap into this network of student advocates.
College Greenlight also offers several innovative programs aimed at helping students overcome financial barriers. One such initiative is its collaboration with institutions that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. By working with these colleges, College Greenlight ensures that admitted students receive comprehensive financial aid packages tailored to their needs. This is critical for low-income students who might otherwise be deterred from attending or remaining in school due to cost concerns.
Partnerships with HEED Award Winners
Several HEED Award-winning institutions have partnered with College Greenlight to expand their outreach. For example, Emory University uses the platform to connect with first-generation students nationwide. This has helped Emory diversify its admission inquiry pool and foster relationships with organizations that serve low-income students. Through College Greenlight’s Greenlight Equity Collaborative, Emory also engages in a forum with other highly selective colleges to share best practices and conduct research aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented students applying to higher education institutions.
Similarly, Augustana College’s Direct Admissions program, facilitated through College Greenlight, is designed to expand access for traditionally excluded high schoolers in the Chicagoland area. This program partners with CBOs to connect low-income students, many of whom are students of color, with college preparation resources.
Swarthmore College, Mount Holyoke College, and Saint Louis University also utilize the platform to enhance their diversity recruitment efforts, ensuring that people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed in higher education.
Innovative Solutions for Equity and Access
The organization’s Greenlight Match program, which launched in 2021, serves as a tool to revolutionize college admissions by streamlining the process for those from underserved backgrounds. Instead of the traditional method where students apply to multiple schools and wait for responses, Greenlight Match allows them to create a comprehensive profile that highlights their academic achievements and personal interests. Colleges then reach out directly with admission offers, bypassing the need for numerous individual applications.
“It was so surprising and truly amazing to see all my options open overnight,” said Olivia Galloway, a first-generation student at Daemen University, regarding her use of Greenlight Match in an interview with Washington Monthly. “I was contacted by 12 different colleges and all of them gave me amazing scholarships.”
This “reverse admission” approach is designed to simplify the process. Colleges, meanwhile, benefit from a larger, more diverse pool of applicants, which helps address declining enrollment numbers and fills a critical need for qualified graduates in the workforce.
“The idea of Greenlight Match was to level the playing field and basically make an inequitable process much more equitable,” says April. “We flipped the model by having colleges apply to students, as opposed to the other way around. “We’ve been really blown away by the responses. Every day we hear from counselors who say this is a better way.”
A Commitment to the Future
As the landscape of college admissions continues to evolve, so too does College Greenlight’s approach to supporting students. The platform’s Greenlight Equity Collaborative represents an ongoing effort to adapt to new challenges and opportunities in higher education. By leveraging data from its extensive network of CBOs and conducting research on the experiences of underrepresented students, College Greenlight remains at the forefront of the fight for equity in college admissions.
The collaboration between College Greenlight and HEED Award-winning institutions demonstrates the potential of partnerships to drive positive change in higher education. By connecting students with the resources they need to succeed, College Greenlight is building a more inclusive future for colleges and universities across the country.
