How Educational Opportunity Programs graduate first-generation college students

“But most agree it’s worth it. Educational Opportunity Programs, a feature of university systems in several states across the country, have shown that a carefully structured combination of demanding academics and intensive supports can launch vulnerable students to success during their first year in college. Students then often go on to graduate at higher rates than their peers. And at NJIT, by completing Howell’s six-week summer program, students land a golden ticket: a seat at a college ranked sixth in the country for graduating engineers of color, according to Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, a news magazine and website focused on diversity in American higher education. In each of the last two years, about 100 students of color have earned engineering degrees at NJIT, according to Diverse.”