Everyone should have a chance at college.

Program Success

With tremendous support from individuals and institutions throughout the Marin community, 10,000 Degrees is making a difference in the lives of these students and has developed a model for educational equity that holds promise for communities across the nation.

Since 1981, 10,000 Degrees (formerly Marin Education Fund) has distributed over 27,000 scholarships to Marin residents totaling more than $36 million. In 2003, Marin Education Fund was recognized as a national leader and model for its work in assisting low-income and first-generation college students to attend college. 10,000 Degrees has achieved this distinction by offering a comprehensive array of college access services and programs to students with significant financial need. Our success points to a promising future:

  • 10,000 Degrees’ Summer Application Institute boasts a 98% success rate facilitating college entrance for the 298 students it has served to date.
  • 90% of students participating in our program graduate from college as compared to the national average college graduation rate of 54%.
What’s New
Fact: 98% of students who attended the Summer Application Institute in 2008 went to college this fall.