2025 in Review

Sharing the expertise of admissions and financial aid counselors with the students who need it most

We connected hundreds of thousands of students and their supporters to advice from the experts at Coalition member colleges through:

VIRTUAL EVENTS

7k

registrations for our workshops on understanding financial aid, writing college essays, discovering majors and careers & more.

200k

ARTICLES & VIDEOS

visits to our web articles & videos on the application process, finding affordable summer programs, securing scholarships & more.

SOCIAL MEDIA

718k

impressions on our social media posts, sharing quick tips on admissions FAQs & introductions to our member schools.

REGIONAL IMPACT,

NATIONAL SCALE

A new program launched in 2025 deepens the Coalition’s support in New York public schools.

HOW IT WORKS

School counselors can request workshops on building college lists, writing essays, understanding financial aid, and more. The Coalition’s program manager handles scheduling and brings admissions counselors to lead interactive sessions, saving counselors time while delivering trusted, high-quality information to students and families.

This one-to-many model helps lighten the load of school counselors by creating a single point of contact to request support from dozens of Coalition members.

THE RESULTS

In our first months after launching, we’ve delivered more than 20 workshops, impacting more than 1,000 students.

Through this initiative, New York City students and supporters benefit from all of the college-planning expertise that the Coalition has to offer.

“Our students do not have enough time or exposure to writing personal statements for college. This was the perfect workshop at the right time as they begin to apply to colleges.”
- school counselor

College Admissions Workshops

This year, the Coalition and Schoolhouse.world continued their partnership to provide thousands of students across the country with access to free college admissions tutoring.

How it works: Equipped with an expert-informed curriculum, college students tutor high school students in virtual, small groups. They lead students through activities and discussions designed to help them write essays, prepare applications, build their college lists and understand the financial aid process.

IN 2025

1,350

workshops published, serving 5,400 learners. This year, we added Financial Aid Decoded, and in partnership with College Board, How to Create Your College List, to our existing workshop offerings on The Essay and The Application.

180

Federal Work Study students employed to tutor College Admissions Workshops, providing a new job opportunity for college students with financial need.

Learners report increased confidence and decreased stress after participating in a College Admissions Workshop.

What students & their supporters say about our work

"I am a first-generation college student from my family, and a lot of this info I was unsure of. I found it really helpful to receive this information now and to be able to refer back to it (once it’s time to apply)."

-event attendee
"The speakers were extremely knowledgeable and articulated their advice very well. A lot of good advice that I haven’t heard before. "

-event attendee
"This event was especially helpful to me because I am the first-generation going to college, and I was lost on certain things, but in this meeting I was able to understand much more."

-event attendee
"Great panelists. Even though I’m in the business, I learned a great deal. Well done…Great schools represented. Kind, compassionate, good-natured, insightful advice."

-event attendee
"I’m a mom of twins. Having events like this where it’s “kids” talking to kids is so helpful because I am trying to convince my two, mostly my son, that this is his search. I’m here to help, but not lead it. Thank you for doing this!"

-event attendee
"This was more than useful. You and your colleagues saved my life. Thank you for everything, all these sessions!"

-College Admissions Workshop participant
“This session greatly reduced my stress. I feel more prepared to write a personal statement for my college application.”

-College Admissions Workshop particpant
"Very knowledgeable presenters with important, relevant, helpful information!"

-event attendee
"It demystified the essay for me considerably reducing stress over the essay writing process."

-College Admissions Workshop participant
"These webinars are incredibly helpful! We have just the one child, and in today's world, applying to college and financial aid is all so different than it was when I went to college in the 80's! Thank you!"

-event attendee
"The speakers were very knowledgable, easy to relate to, and used specific examples that were helpful."

-event attendee
"The brainstorms forced me to write which made me feel very accomplished."

-College Admissions Workshop participant
"These are excellent sessions."

-event attendee
"I really appreciate the writing time. It’s a great way to deal with procrastination."

-College Admissions Workshop participant
"The event made me feel more confident in navigating the financial aid and admission process, and which made me feel confident the most is the way it provided reassurance and made everything clear which really made the difference."

-event attendee
"All help helps. We already feel rather well prepared (both parents are profs), but things are different now, and seeing the behind-the-scenes reveals both the complexities and the opportunities available. Coalition seems like a great operations…we look forward to connecting with you more."

-event attendee

Apply Coalition with Scoir

Our streamlined, college application process, integreated within college & career-planning tools

54%

So far in the 2025-26 application cycle:

Of applicants qualify for an easy-to-use Coalition fee waiver, ensuring the cost of applying never holds students back.

Learn more about Coalition fee waivers

ALL ACCOMPLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Coalition members: smart college choices

Our 150 member schools are a diverse group of colleges and universities across the country — public and private, small and large, selective and open access — that collectively achieve graduation rates that are 24% higher than the national average and 35% higher for Pell-eligible students.

New members we welcomed this year:

Dickinson College
George Washington University
Lawrence University
Lipscomb University

Assumption University
Bennington College
California Lutheran University

Saint Joseph’s University
Towson University
Villanova University

MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS

Support the Coalition

Please note that due to processing fees, gifts made by check or by selecting US bank below maximizes the impact of your gift.

Make your gift by mail:

Coalition for College | PO Box 850 | Colchester, VT, 05446

Make your gift online:

NEW IN 2025

Meet Tonki Downs, the Coalition’s new director of development, who joined the team in November to strengthen meaningful connections between the Coalition and its donors.

Thank you for your support!

2025 in Review

Sharing the expertise of admissions and financial aid counselors with the students who need it most

We connected hundreds of thousands of students and their supporters to advice from the experts at Coalition member colleges through:

VIRTUAL EVENTS

7k

200k

ARTICLES & VIDEOS

SOCIAL MEDIA

718k

REGIONAL IMPACT,

NATIONAL SCALE

College Admissions Workshops

IN 2025

1,350

180

"I am a first-generation college student from my family, and a lot of this info I was unsure of. I found it really helpful to receive this information now and to be able to refer back to it (once it’s time to apply)."

"The speakers were extremely knowledgeable and articulated their advice very well. A lot of good advice that I haven’t heard before. "

"This event was especially helpful to me because I am the first-generation going to college, and I was lost on certain things, but in this meeting I was able to understand much more."

"Great panelists. Even though I’m in the business, I learned a great deal. Well done…Great schools represented. Kind, compassionate, good-natured, insightful advice."

"I’m a mom of twins. Having events like this where it’s “kids” talking to kids is so helpful because I am trying to convince my two, mostly my son, that this is his search. I’m here to help, but not lead it. Thank you for doing this!"

"This was more than useful. You and your colleagues saved my life. Thank you for everything, all these sessions!"

“This session greatly reduced my stress. I feel more prepared to write a personal statement for my college application.”

"Very knowledgeable presenters with important, relevant, helpful information!"

"It demystified the essay for me considerably reducing stress over the essay writing process."

"These webinars are incredibly helpful! We have just the one child, and in today's world, applying to college and financial aid is all so different than it was when I went to college in the 80's! Thank you!"

"The speakers were very knowledgable, easy to relate to, and used specific examples that were helpful."

"The brainstorms forced me to write which made me feel very accomplished."

"These are excellent sessions."

"I really appreciate the writing time. It’s a great way to deal with procrastination."

"The event made me feel more confident in navigating the financial aid and admission process, and which made me feel confident the most is the way it provided reassurance and made everything clear which really made the difference."

"All help helps. We already feel rather well prepared (both parents are profs), but things are different now, and seeing the behind-the-scenes reveals both the complexities and the opportunities available. Coalition seems like a great operations…we look forward to connecting with you more."