The CollegeKeys Compact™

  • Awarding Innovation in Helping Low-Income Students

    Congratulations to the winners of the first-ever CollegeKeys Innovation Awards! These exceptional programs are making a difference for students from low-income backgrounds.
    More

  • You are missing some Flash content that should appear here! Perhaps your browser cannot display it, or maybe it did not initialize correctly.
    Voices of the CollegeKeys Compact™

    Learn how the CollegeKeys Compact™ addresses an urgent national need and gives us reason to hope
  • In 2010, ‘Highly Selective’ Means ‘Highly Accessible’

    Doug Christiansen, Vice Provost for Enrollment at Vanderbilt University, explains the steps his institution took to break down financial barriers.
    More
left
right

Why We're Helping

The CollegeKeys Compact™ is a call to action to member school districts, colleges and universities, state education agencies and nonprofit organizations. We're determined to make college access and success a reality for all students, including those from low-income backgrounds.

We work with Compact members to identify, share and intensify programs and practices that address the needs and challenges of students from low-income backgrounds.

Please join us in a great national effort to reshape American education and to make the American Dream a reality for all young people across the country. More

Find Out More

Our Progress

The Board of Trustees of the College Board convened a Task Force on College Access for Students from Low-Income Backgrounds.

Based on research conducted by the Task Force, the CollegeKeys Compact was released in 2007, driven by member commitment to the belief that all underserved students have a right to an affordable, accessible and successful college experience.

To date more than 540 school districts, colleges and universities, state education agencies and nonprofit organizations have signed on to the Compact.

Breaking Barriers features the real success stories of inspiring leaders in education who were first in their families to attend college.

Student Voices is an online series that profiles highly motivated students who’ve benefited from the innovative programs of Compact members.

The first-ever Innovation Awards were distributed at each of the College Board Regional Forums in February 2010.

A Catalog of Effective Practices showcases each of the outstanding programs that participated in the 2010 Innovation Awards.

Sharing the stories of professionals and students who’ve broken barriers to make their college dreams a reality.

Developing an online database of the effective practices submitted for consideration in the Innovation Awards.

Building an online community that will allow Compact members to share effective practices and collaborate.

Planning for the 2011 Innovation Awards.

Related Initiatives

Community College Transfer & Retention
Strengthening the role of community colleges in solving national educational challenges
More
Access, Admissions & Success – Education and the American Future
Increasing the number of Americans who graduate from college
More
Trends in Higher Education
College pricing and student aid trend data for 2009
More
Rethinking Student Aid
Policy recommendations for federal financial aid reform
More

Our Goal

To create a network of institutions and agencies dedicated to expanding the educational opportunities available to students from low-income backgrounds.

Visit the CollegeKeys Compact website to:
  • Join the Compact
  • Access the Inventories for Compact Members
  • Complete the Effective Practice Submission Form
Visit Now

News & Events

Dec 31
In 2010, ‘Highly Selective’ Means ‘Highly Accessible’
Making a Vanderbilt education accessible to all excellent students
More
Dec 31
CollegeKeys Compact™ Best Practices ― Vanderbilt University
Read how Vanderbilt University supports low-income students
More
Dec 31
2 New England Institutions Receive Award
Each Receive $5,000
More
Dec 31
3 Institutions from the Middle States Region Win Award
Each Receive $5,000
More
Dec 31
3 Southwestern Institutions Win Award
Each Receive $5,000
More
Dec 31
3 Western Region Institutions CollegeKeys Innovation Award
Each Receive $5,000
More
Dec 31
3 Southern Institutions Win Award
Each Receive $5,000
More
Dec 31
3 Midwestern Institutions Win CollegeKeys Innovation Award
Each Receive $5,000
More

Publications

The CollegeKeys Compact Catalog of Effective Practices 2010
Download
The CollegeKeys Compact: An Open Letter to the Leaders of American Education
Download

Press Releases

College Board Rallies Members to Help Low-Income Students Get College Degrees

Contact Us

The CollegeKeys Compact Office
The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center
1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036-2375
(202) 741-4700
collegekeys@collegeboard.org