A SINGLE DEGREE.
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY.

One Million Degrees accelerates community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility. 

TYPES OF SUPPORT

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The OMD Support Model

Our holistic, research-driven support model directly impacts the City Colleges of Chicago students we serve and serves as a national model for driving community college student success.  OMD Scholars have access to four pillars of wraparound supports: Academic, financial, professional, and personal.

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Academic Support
  • Accountability calls with a dedicated OMD Program Coordinator (PC)  
  • Guidance to help you navigate campus resources
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  • Stipends to help with books, transportation, or other college costs
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  • Student development sessions (SDS) on topics like time management and self-care
  • Resume building LinkedIn training, and mock-interviews
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  • One-on-one and group mentoring from OMD staff and coaches  
  • A community committed to growth, success, and empowerment  
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BECOME AN OMD COACH

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Coach a scholar, support your community

One Million Degrees Coaches act as a sounding board, thought partner, and cheerleader for OMD Scholars. By volunteering just a few hours a month, you can make a lasting difference in a scholar’s life and career.

OMD helps scholars succeed

WORDS FROM OUR SCHOLARS

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PROGRESS

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WHEN YOU GIVE TO OMD, YOU SUPPORT OUR VISION

OMD

CHANGES LIVES.

A future where all community college students are on a pathway to economic mobility. 

PROGRESS

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DRIVING CHANGE

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The OMD student support model changes the lives of the students we serve, as well as the educational systems we work within.

OMD IS ROOTED
IN RESEARCH

We’ve pursued rigorous external research and evaluation of our program. To evaluate our impact, we embarked on a randomized control trial (RCT) study with the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab in 2017, finding that OMD Scholars are:

WHAT WE ACHIEVED

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73%

More likely to earn a degree

70%

More likely to enroll
in community college

94%

More likely to persist from

the fall to spring semesters 

RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS 

RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS 

RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS 

EMPOWER FUTURES

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OMD IS GROWING

WE ARE SCALING

In Chicago to reach 3,000+ students by 2026 through our partnership with City Colleges of Chicago. 

WE ARE STRENGTHENING

Career exposure and job connections for scholars in partnership with employers and colleges. 

WE ARE EXPANDING

Nationally by sharing knowledge and piloting direct-to-institution support.