The Kessler Scholars Program is a comprehensive, cohort-based program designed to support first-generation, limited-income college students through a combination of financial aid and robust, evidence-informed support programming. Established and emerging Kessler Scholars Programs are embedded in and supported by the Kessler Scholars Collaborative, a nationwide network that guides program development and implementation, facilitates practice sharing across institutions, and provides students with opportunities to connect with other first-generation scholars across the country.
2024 Cornell Kessler Scholars Stole Ceremony. Photo credit: Roger William Photography for Cornell University
The Kessler Scholars Collaborative was formed in 2020 to support program development at six inaugural institutions: Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, Queens College, St. Francis College, Syracuse University, and the University of Michigan, where the first Kessler Scholars Program was established in 2008. In April 2022, ten additional institutions were selected to join the Kessler Scholars Collaborative as part of a new partnership with the American Talent Initiative (ATI), with generous funding support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation. The American Talent Initiative is a coalition of public and private institutions with high graduation rates that are committed to expanding college enrollment and success for low- and moderate-income college students. ATI is co-managed by Ithaka S+R and the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. In 2025, the Collaborative announced four-year grant renewal awards for 15 campus-based Kessler Scholars Programs, with a joint $16.5 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation. These campus partners will continue to operate alongside the University of Michigan, where the inaugural Kessler Scholars Program operates with endowed support from the Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation.
Ithaka S+R began serving as the external evaluation partner for the Collaborative in 2022. The primary aim of the five-year formative assessment of the program is to support implementation and maximize impact across the entire network and at each of the 16 participating institutions. On this page, we’ll share updates about our findings and the Collaborative’s impact.
Key findings
- How First-Generation Students Engage with Comprehensive Support
- Supporting First-Generation Students in a Time of Crisis
- Tailored Support for First-Year, First-Generation College Students
- Improving First-Year Outcomes for First-Generation Students through Summer Engagement Programs
- Key Findings from the 2022-23 Academic Year
- Evaluation Plan and Approach
Perspectives from Kessler Scholars, program staff, and Collaborative leadership
- What Does It Mean to Be First-Gen? Insights from the Kessler Scholars Collaborative Fall 2025 First-Year Student Survey
- Paying It Forward: First-Generation Higher Ed Professionals Empowering Current First-Gen Students
- Fostering a Culture of Continuous Improvement: Highlights from the 2024 Kessler Scholars Collaborative Annual Convening
Learn from the data
The Kessler Scholars Collaborative Student Success Dashboard shares data about Kessler Scholars’ backgrounds, experiences, and student success outcomes.
Explore deep dives on the following topics: