Mission Scholars uses comprehensive college admissions guidance, mentorship, and career development training to help exceptional low-income students reach their full potential and become a force for change in their communities.
Last year, only 10% of low-income high school graduates from the Santa Barbara Unified School District matriculated to a 4-year college or university compared to 20% statewide. Mission Scholars’ primary goal is to equalize educational opportunity by providing local, low-income, high achieving students with expert guidance and skills necessary for college enrollment and completion. The elevated educational achievement will improve social fairness and family outcomes in American society. Among the Mission Scholars Class of 2020, 100% of students will enter a 4-year college with financial aid.
There is an urgent need for supplemental professional help in navigating the college landscape, especially in the underserved community. Santa Barbara has abundant resources for low-income families, but our experiences with these students have demonstrated a striking, ongoing inequity in college admissions guidance for high-achieving students without financial means. Mission Scholars was founded in December 2018 to address this inequity.
Each Mission Scholar receives:
© 2022 Mission Scholars. All rights reserved. Mission Scholars is a project of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization overseeing a number of signature programs serving students in Santa Barbara.
