We provide top-tier level college access services to ensure our students earn the maximum in scholarships to reduce their debt burden so they may define their own futures.
Many of the students we serve attend schools that lack adequate college counselors. Urban Arts offers one-on-one counseling, classes dedicated to higher education access, personal mentoring, application and essay review, and recommendation assistance. We guide our students through the application process, provide financial aid counseling, and bolster their confidence to address personal and social challenges. We help our students build a robust digital portfolio to support their applications and ensure that fees are never an obstacle to applying to college. Our support goes beyond the acceptance letter, with a comprehensive college persistence program.
Even as the cost of college continues to rise, with student debt levels climbing along with it, the long-term financial benefits of a four-year college degree remain indisputable. Adults who have attained at least a bachelor’s degree have better economic outcomes, on average, than adults who have not completed college. They tend to earn more and accumulate more wealth. This is the first step in Urban Arts’ new and diverse talent pipeline.
For more detailed information, please contact our Post-Secondary Success Manager Joelle Blackstock at joelle@urbanarts.org.
IN ACTION
Graduates from our Mastery program have secured $25M and counting in college scholarships since 2017.
I’d say that the College Prep classes provided structure that turned an intimidating application process into a manageable one that I could tackle with confidence! I am very particular about my writing process, and don’t like writing under pressure, but the classes and exercises helped me to bring out that natural side of myself that I could show off in my essays to college admissions without fear. I was very grateful for the classroom environment. It made me see that I wasn’t going through this process alone, but with other students like me. We lifted each other up!
It was a wonderful experience where I learned, made friends, and expanded my portfolio while doing something that I really enjoyed. At Urban Arts, I found a community of people that shared the same interests as me! Urban Arts became my second home.
Without Urban Arts, I wouldn’t be able to attend my dream college and pursue my growing career in digital game design. This program has transformed me and pushed me on a track to become successful. I feel extremely confident from the skills that Urban Arts has given me.
THE NAGLER SCHOLARSHIP
The Nagler Scholarship was created sixteen years ago to enable low-income high school students to define their future by providing $60,000 to one winning scholar. The Nagler Scholarship was created by Urban Arts Board Member Niclas Nagler and his family. Nagler scholars demonstrate leadership in their schools, a clear focus and vision for their post-secondary careers, and a strong desire to use their talents and skills to impact the community. They are artists, computer wizards, designers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and global changemakers. We are so grateful to Niclas and proud to be able to partner with him on this life-changing initiative.
Featured Partners
