Making an Impact
Stats at a Glance
400
CDI Scholars have graduated from a four-year degree program.*
89%
of CDI Scholars earn an undergraduate degree
CDI Scholars are more than six times more likely to graduate from college than their peers who don’t receive similar support.
$60k
average of renewable financial aid received by CDI Scholars in 2026
CDI Scholars receive more than four times the national average of $14,800 in renewable grants and scholarships
31%
of 2026 CDI graduates reported zero college loan debt**
Compared to a national average of $37,853 in student loan debt in 2025, according to the Education Data Initiative.
260+
Scholars currently enrolled.
6 years
the minimum amount of time we spend with each Scholar.
100%
of CDI Scholars are accepted to and enroll in college.
100%
of CDI Scholars graduate from high school.
*From CDI’s start to December 2026.
**Among 2026 CDI college graduates who completed the post-graduation survey.
Why six years?
Since 1990, college graduation rates have been measured after both 4-years and 6-years.
Only about 45% of students will complete their degree in four years, for a variety of reasons, including transferring schools, financial challenges, mental health struggles, changing majors, or schedule challenges for student athletes.
Personal Impact
2008 Scholars Program alum and current Career Mentoring Initiative mentor Dr. Nelson Almeida describes CDI’s impact on his life.
CDI Scholar parent Asrat Tenfeleh discusses the impact CDI has had on her family.
Publications
CDI Fact Book
CDI’s Fact Book highlights the work we do in our effort to close the education, achievement, and opportunity gap for low-income, first-generation-to-college students.
Illustrating the efficacy of CDI’s high-touch, results-driven approach that includes mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and family support over the course of more than six years, the Fact Book underscores why our work matters to our Scholars and the families we have served since 2005.
Additionally, you will find information about CDI’s School Support Program that extends our work to high school college advising offices through tailored consulting focused on helping school counselors and staff improve college advising and supporting students to find their best-fit college.
With the help of donations, sponsorships, and underwriting, CDI can expand the reach of our successful, proven program and help even more low-income, first-to-college students fulfill their educational aspirations and achieve what is possible.
Barriers to Entry
As the college application and acceptance process has become more complex and competitive, many low-income and first-generation-to-college students have been left at a distinct disadvantage.
In Barriers to Entry, CDI examines eight prominent structural challenges and institutional obstacles facing low-income, first-generation-to-college students that present direct impediments to the successful attainment of a college degree.
Using data culled from research studies and reports across multiple fields, government statistics, and its own internal numbers collected since 2005, CDI has pieced together disparate pieces information to create a clear picture of some of the key threats to college success for low-income, first-generation-to-college students that should be of use to students, parents, college counselors, government officials and anyone interested in the development of a more equitable college access and acceptance process that leads to increased graduation rates for all students.