Deutsche Bank today announced a partnership with Strive for College (Strive), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving access to higher education in the United States. Strive leverages the influence and knowledge of volunteer mentors to guide eligible students through the college application and financial aid process.
Working with Strive, Deutsche Bank will help 1,000 qualified, low-income high school students across the US apply to, enter and afford the college best fit for them. Among millennials ages 25 to 32, median annual earnings for full-time working college-degree holders are $17,500 greater than for those with high school diplomas only, according to the Pew Research Center. Some 400,000 college-qualified high school students graduating each year do not enroll in a higher education institution. Nearly 95% of Strive students enroll in college, with 68% not incurring any debt.
“Barriers to equal education still present a challenge for youth in lower-income communities,” said Jacques Brand, Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Bank North America. “Ensuring that young people have access to education so that they are prepared to compete in today’s global marketplace is imperative to creating a diverse and dynamic workforce.”
“With partners like Deutsche Bank, Strive for College has a real chance to address the staggering unmet demand for college guidance that not only threatens to limit the success of high school graduates qualified to pursue college, but generations of families, their communities and our shared economy,” said Michael Carter, Chief Executive Officer of Strive for College. “We are sincerely grateful and excited for the work ahead.”
Through UStrive, a proprietary platform that unlocks data trends to match mentors with mentees and schools with students, Strive provides virtual mentoring nationwide.
To learn more about Strive, please visit www.striveforcollege.org.
