The Graduate! Network

Our Vision: Every adult who aspires to earn a college degree has access to the resources and supports they need to start and complete a college degree Every adult is connected to an individual who knows how to go to and through college. Understanding the value of a degree and knowing how to succeed in college are ubiquitous within all communities, and across socioeconomic groups. Adults have affordable college options at accredited institutions. The practice of investing in adults completing college is mainstream in talent, workforce, and economic development strategies. Our Mission: To increase the number of adults completing college, by engaging business, higher education, government, organized labor, workforce and economic development, community building organizations, social service providers, and college graduates to align existing resources, remove barriers, and create new pathways for adults to complete a college degree. Our Approach: There are thirty-six million adults in America who could find better jobs, career satisfaction and financial opportunity by completing their postsecondary education. The Graduate! Network has proven that these adults, including those with multiple barriers, can finish what they started and find the path to more fulfilling lives, careers and economic well-being. The Network provides a comprehensive national solution that is delivered locally, combining a proven methodology that enhances and accelerates a community’s assets, technical assistance and peer support. Focused on the needs and outcomes of Comebackers, our approach is to build awareness among leaders, engage a broad partnership, align policies and practices, and deliver services at scale. New and established communities grow through sharing of experiences and expertise, and the Network continues to provide additional training, benchmarks, new resources, a national knowledge and evidence base, messaging, professional development, and funding opportunities.