Hope Chicago Celebrates First Wave of College Graduates Across Illinois

Proud of his accomplishments Jajuan Folks, a former graduate of Al Raby High School shows off his diploma. PHOTO COURTESY OF HOPE CHICAGO
Proud of his accomplishments Jajuan Folks, a former graduate of Al Raby High School shows off his diploma. PHOTO COURTESY OF HOPE CHICAGO

Hope Chicago Celebrates First Wave of College Graduates Across Illinois

400 students and parents are completing debt-free college and workforce programs through Hope Chicago’s family-centered scholarship initiative

 

Hope Chicago today announced a major milestone: the organization’s first cohort of students and parents are completing debt-free college degrees and workforce credential programs across Illinois marking an important step in strengthening economic mobility, workforce opportunity, and long-term community prosperity for Chicago families.

By the end of summer, approximately 400 Hope Scholars and Hope Parent Scholars will have completed a debt-free postsecondary opportunity through Hope Chicago’s two-generation scholarship initiative, including a bachelor’s degree, associate degree or workforce credential.

Launched in 2022, Hope Chicago operates the nation’s largest two-generation scholarship initiative, providing debt-free college and career pathways – along with wraparound support services – to students at five South and West Side Chicago high schools and one parent or guardian from each household. Support includes financial aid assistance, dedicated campus staff, emergency funding, stipends, and workforce exposure opportunities that help Scholars persist from high school through graduation and into careers. The organization currently partners with nearly 30 Illinois colleges and universities, including every public university in the state and eight private universities, to implement this statewide strategy.

“These graduates represent more than individual achievement,” said Aaron Kuecker, CEO of Hope Chicago. “They reflect what becomes possible when students and families have the financial freedom and holistic support to pursue their goals. Entire families are changing their economic trajectories, and Chicago and Illinois are stronger for it.”

With financial barriers removed, enrollment in college and career pathway programs across Hope Chicago’s five partner high schools has risen from 51 percent before the program launched to 83 percent in the 2025-26 school year. At the same time, Hope Scholars are persisting in college at significantly higher rates than before Hope Chicago began, a key indicator tied to long-term degree completion.

The transformation has reshaped college pathway outcomes across Hope Chicago’s partner schools. In just four years, every Hope Chicago partner high school (all Chicago Public Schools’ neighborhood high schools) has moved from the bottom half of Illinois’ nearly 700 public high schools for college enrollment into the top quartile statewide. For example, in 2021, Morgan Park High School ranked 400th in Illinois for college enrollment and Benito Juárez Community Academy ranked 531st; today, both schools are projected to rank 26th statewide.

To date, Hope Scholars and Hope Parent Scholars have completed degree and certificate programs from Chicago State University, City Colleges of Chicago, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois State University, Instituto del Progreso Latino, Loyola University Chicago, National Louis University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Rivet School, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern New Hampshire University, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Western Illinois University.

Lizbeth Garcia, Hope Scholar Graduate, University of Illinois Chicago: “Hope Chicago changed the trajectory of my life and my family’s life,” said Garcia, who earned a degree in Urban Education. “As the daughter of a single mother after losing my father at a young age, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to earn my degree debt-free. Now, I’m graduating to become a teacher and hope to give back to communities like the one that raised me in Little Village by teaching in Chicago Public Schools.”

Dominique Moore, Hope Scholar Graduate, Chicago State University: “Because I’m graduating debt-free, I see my next move as a fresh start with endless opportunities,” said Moore, who earned a degree in Biology, Pre-Med. “I’m able to focus on my goals without financial stress holding me back. I plan to continue building my future, striving for excellence, and putting my best foot forward in everything I do. This gives me the freedom to step into the next chapter of my life with confidence and purpose.”

Osvaldo Herrera, Hope Scholar Graduate, Northern Illinois University: “Four years ago, I felt lost and never imagined college was part of my future,” said Herrera, who earned a degree in Marketing. “As a first-generation college student, everything felt unfamiliar at first, but I took advantage of the support and resources Hope Chicago provided. Now, I’m graduating debt-free and preparing to start a job with a financial trading company in downtown Chicago – a childhood dream of mine.”

It costs approximately $20 million dollars to fully support a cohort of Hope Scholars and Parent Scholars through a four-year degree. Yet the projected social and economic return for Hope Chicago’s first cohort alone is $143 million, according to a study done in 2023. Beyond the numbers, Hope Chicago is strengthening Illinois’ long term economic vitality. Graduates are more likely to stay in Illinois, contributing to a more educated, more diverse workforce and helping meet the talent needs of employers across sectors.

Guillermo Niño, Hope Parent Scholar Graduate, Northeastern Illinois University: “I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass me by,” said Niño, who recently completed his bachelor’s degree in social work. His daughters are also Hope Scholars, with Tonatzin attending Illinois State University and Arianna attending Northeastern Illinois University. “As someone who grew up on Chicago’s West Side and now works to serve that same community, education has given me the chance to turn my experiences into purpose. Going back to school alongside my daughters has shown my family that it’s never too late to change your future.”

This milestone comes as Hope Chicago’s fifth cohort of scholars are graduating from high school across its five partner schools, further expanding the pipeline of students entering college with the promise of debt-free education.

“Today’s graduates are the first proof point that this model works at scale,” Dr. Kuecker added. “This is just the beginning. These graduates are leaders, professionals, and role models – and they are paving the way for thousands more to follow.”

About Hope Chicago

Hope Chicago is a two-generation scholarship and support program designed to increase economic mobility for Chicago families by providing debt-free postsecondary pathways for students and their parents. Launched in 2022, the organization partners with Chicago Public Schools and higher education institutions to remove financial barriers and deliver comprehensive support from enrollment through graduation. Learn more: HopeChicago.org.

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