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Our Impact

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IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS

more Students Served

12000
+
1
High School and College Students Served
3000
+
College Students
  • • >2k 4-year institutions
  • • 1k+ community colleges
9500
High School Students

Who We Serve

low-income
100
%
Low-Income
Background
PoC
93
%
Black, Indigenous,
Latinx & People of
Color
grad cap
92
%
First in Family
to College

LESS STUDENT DEBT

debt
87
%
Less Student Loan Debt Incurred than National Average
$1,000: Average that 10,000 Degrees Students Borrow vs. $7.4k Nationally3
student loan
10
%
of 10,000 Degrees Students Accept Loans
vs. 55% of Their National Peers3
Our Fellows’ 1:1 support helps students take out the least amount of loans and leverage as much free financial aid as possible to graduate with little to no debt.

More Financial Support

Financial aid icon
$
6
.
4
M
1
10,000 Degrees
Scholarships Awarded
financial aid icon
$
17
K
Average Free Financial Aid Leveraged per Student
vs. $7.5k2 Nationally
scholarship icon
$
32
.
5
M
1
Total Financial Aid Leveraged
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MORE GRADUATES BEATING THE ODDS

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More College
Students Graduating

80

%

+

10,000 Degrees 4-year College Students Who Earn Bachelor's Degree

300

+

Class of 2022 Graduates - Our Largest Graduating Class Ever!

community college

Strong community
College pathway

3

x

Rate that 10,000 Degrees Community College Students Transfer to and Graduate from Four-year Colleges

Community college is a strong pathway to a 4-year degree.

more students completing fAFSA & cADA4

97

%

of 10,000 Degrees Students Complete FAFSA (84%) or CADA (13%) vs. 66% of their national peers 5

All students are statistically more likely to attend college if they complete FAFSA/CADA.6

1 as of Nov 2022
2 Education Data Initiative - “How Do People Pay for College?” (Apr 2022)
3 National Center for Education Statistics - “Digest of Education Statistics” (2000-01- 2019-20)
4 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and California Dream Act Application
5 Source: Education Data Initiative - “Financial Aid Statistics” (Feb 2021)
6 Source: NCAN - “Students in Higher-Poverty School Districts Are Less Likely to Apply for Financial Aid” (Dec 2019)

WHERE OUR STUDENTS ATTEND COLLEGE

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3000
+
College Students
170
Four-Year Colleges
56
Community Colleges

10,000 Degrees has supPORTED AND GUIDED ME THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE COLLEGE CAREER!

Without them, I would not have made it this far to pursue my bachelor’s degree in both Sociology and African American studies at UC Berkeley! They continuously come through for me with academic, financial and personal guidance, and I cannot thank them enough! I am ONE DEGREE.”

Rakia White
10,000 Degrees Alumna, University of California, Berkeley, 2022
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WHERE ARE OUR ALUMNI TODAY?

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Since 1981

20000
+
10,000 Degrees alumni
$
90
M
Financial assistance awarded
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EMPLOYMENT SECTORS

A: For-Profit Corporation/Company
B: Non-Profit
C: Healthcare
D: Education
E: Government/Public
F: Self-Employed
*Results from Alumni Survey conducted by 10,000 Degrees Feb-Apr, 2022

FOR-PROFIT
INDUSTRY BREAKDOWN

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DEGREES EARNED

98
%
Bachelor's Degree
18
%
Master's Degree
1
%
Doctorate
Rose Aranda headshot

My involvement with 10,000 Degrees has opened many doors for me and helped me build great friendships and connections.

They’ve given me amazing tools to continue to excel and reach all my personal and college goals. Before 10,000 Degrees, I was scared of how anxious and difficult college was going to be, but I have only felt ease on my journey. I truly believe I have people there who will help me if I ever do run into issues. I am super grateful!”
‍

Rose Aranda
10,000 Degrees Student, Utah Valley University, 2026

OUR ALUMNI ARE CHANGING THE WORLD

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10,000 Degrees’ alumni are transforming the world in ways large and small. Many of our alumni come full circle by mentoring and supporting 10,000 Degrees students as 10,000 Degrees Fellows, as employers and internship providers, and as volunteers and mentors for our Career Success program.

Alumni are also invited to join the Young Professionals & Alumni Council (YPC), a group of young leaders with a common interest in giving back by supporting students from low-income backgrounds in pursuit of their college and career goals.

Annie Xiao
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Annie Xiao

Co-Chair, 10,000 Degrees Young Professionals & Alumni Council
Chief of Staff of FiscalNote ESG Solutions, FiscalNote, Inc.
University of California, Santa Cruz, 2015

Finance: “As a Chief of Staff, I lead a team of sustainability professionals to enable companies worldwide to become sustainability leaders and am dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion. From deciding on my major to landing my first internship, Meritus (now merged with 10,000 Degrees) was with me every step of the way. I would not be where I am today without the supportive staff and mentors who guided me through my college and career journey. As 10,000 Degrees YPC co-chair, I’m excited to give back to this wonderful organization and uplift other 10,000 Degrees scholars.”

Elizabeth Quiroz
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Elizabeth Quiroz

Social Worker Investigator, Dependency Legal Services
Arizona State University, 2023, M.A.
Sonoma State University, 2021, B.A.

Government: Utilizing her experience as a victim of human trafficking to advocate for children and adults.

Imani Lawson
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Imani Lawson

Installation Engineer on the BART CBTC Project, Hitachi Rail
Grambling State University, 2021

Transportation: “As a college graduate, my impact has been encouraging the next generation to pursue a higher education and the importance of having a vision. Coming from Richmond, exposure to violence, drugs, and poverty is a story shared by many. My experience with 10,000 Degrees helped me become an ambassador for change who is empowered by success, as well as providing the opportunity to save my own life.”

José Soto
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José Soto

Music Specialist at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Sonoma State University, 2018

The Arts: Connecting Latinx folks with their culture.

Katiuska Pimentel Vargas
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Katiuska Pimentel Vargas

Student clinician at University of San Francisco Internet & Intellectual Property Justice Clinic University of California
University of San Francisco School of Law, 2023
University of California, Santa Cruz, 2017

Law: Supporting small businesses pro bono at USF Law’s Internet & Intellectual Property Justice Clinic.

Pedro Moura
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Pedro Moura

CEO & Co-founder, Flourish Fi
Harvard Business School, Executive Education, 2022
University of California, Berkeley, 2018
University of California, Davis, 2010

Financial Technology: Building inclusive banking products & opening doors to future Latinx generations.

Ramanjot Kaur
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Ramanjot Kaur

Public Health Specialist, UCSF
University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, 2020 & 2017

Public Health: “Growing up in a low-income community, it was difficult to access resources and navigate higher education. I knew I wanted to go to college and study something to make an impact on the world, but I didn’t know how to get there. 10,000 Degrees’ one-to-one mentorship was so invaluable and rare. Through 10,000 Degrees’ financial support plus additional scholarships, I was able to study abroad twice and graduate from undergrad and grad school debt-free! 10,000 Degrees continued to support me when I returned to Berkeley to obtain a Master’s. As I graduated into an uncertain job market due to COVID-19 where global health job opportunities evaporated, 10,000 Degrees was still there with career counseling and employment workshops— helping me to secure a position at UCSF, where I’ve been able to contribute to COVID-19 response programming statewide and globally, as well as to maternal, child health, and HIV projects in India and Jamaica. I am grateful I had the opportunity to support my community throughout the pandemic and excited to see where my work takes me.”

Rocío Mondragón Reyes
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Rocío Mondragón Reyes

Career Development Program Lead, Students Rising Above
Georgetown University, 2019

Education: Supporting students from historically marginalized communities.

Karla Santiago

Director of 4-Year & Alumni Success
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