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PeerForward

peer forward team member connects with and leads students at workshop
student graduation ceremony, yay peer leaders!
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Our Impact

PeerForward is a nonprofit organization that has placed more than 600,000 students in low-income communities on the path to college access success.
Download our 2023-24 Impact Report
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Compared to similar schools, PeerForward high schools achieve, on average, a

26% higher completion rate of financial aid applications.

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scholarship
scholarship

Annually, PeerForward unlocks

$82 Million in college funding.

peerforward alumni smile together

See Our National Impact Highlights

PeerForward’s innovative youth activation model activates students in partner high schools and colleges to drive success in higher education throughout their communities. Our expertise is built on nearly three decades of experience, supported by research, and validated by third-party evaluations. The result: greater opportunities for students from low-income communities.

DC TX NY AZ CA NV UT CO NM AK HI OK KS NE SD WY ID OR WA MT ND MN WI IA IL MO AR LA MS AL GA FL SC NC TN KY IN MI OH WV VA PA ME VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD Bermuda

74%

of high school Peer Leaders enroll in college, with 87% attending four-year institutions.

71% higher

rate of two-year degree attainment for students at Broward College compared to the general student population.

29+ Years going and we’re still fresh! Highlights from just last year:

PeerForward in High School

Peer Leaders host a variety of college access campaigns and activities. From financial aid workshops and college application essay writing sessions, to application drives, college and career fairs – students take the lead! Each team collaborates with their schools to assist every senior through the college admissions process and to inspire all other students to plan for higher education, driving up schoolwide postsecondary application rates.

In 2023 - 2024

  • We trained 712 high school student Peer Leaders
  • We served 16,000 high school seniors with college enrollment campaigns, generating FAFSA applications that unlocked $82 million in financial aid.
student works on project

PeerForward is unleashing the power of peer support on two- and four-year college campuses, training Peer Leaders who, in turn, mentor groups of classmates so they take advantage of academic resources, make financial aid deadlines, and engage with campus resources and activities. The result: more students persisting to earn a degree. 

In 2023 - 2024

  • 126 college student Peer Leaders
  • Peer Leaders served 2,080 classmates improving the college retention rate at Broward College and Cal State-LA. We also expanded into community colleges in Kentucky.
  • PeerForward at Broward College was selected as an AmeriCorps 'Program of the Year' in Florida.
peerforward leader guides students through strengths finder exercise

Beyond the numbers, it’s what we can’t measure that means the most.

PeerForward’s transformational training experiences inspire students to pursue higher education – and to help their friends do the same. This “self-to-service" ethos is in every Peer Leader’s heart – at the heart of PeerForward.

PeerForward Voices & Stories

A Peer Got Me Here

Get Involved

Donate

Help us bring more resources to students in need.

Volunteer

Join our movement and make a direct impact on the lives of our youth.

Become a PeerForward School

Collaborate with us to foster a culture of postsecondary success at your high school or college.

Partner With Us

Connect with us to see how our mission aligns with yours.