Align & Design Team™

College Enrollment

Their Mission:

To enhance collaboration between community organizations, school districts, and post-secondary institutions to elevate services, resources, and programs, fostering increased college enrollment and attainment for economic prosperity in Kent County.

Overview

Objective

Increase college enrollment and attainment rates among students of color in Kent County by 20% over the next five years through coordinated efforts and improved support services.

Policy Connection
  • Access to Comprehensive School-Based Supports
  • Access to Wraparound Supports in Postsecondary
  • Increased Access to Postsecondary Opportunities

Current Work

The Align and Design Team has developed a five-phase framework to achieve a well-connected post-secondary network: map, connect, support, persist, and complete. Each phase defines a clear success benchmark, outlines shared community responsibilities, and prioritizes high-leverage actions aligned with its objective.

What We’re Doing

To enhance collaboration between community organizations, school districts, and post-secondary institutions to elevate services, resources, and programs, fostering increased college enrollment and attainment for economic prosperity in Kent County.

What Comes Next

Increase college enrollment and attainment rates among students of color in Kent County by 20% over the next five years through coordinated efforts and improved support services.

Why It Matters
  • Higher household wealth: Postsecondary graduates have average home values $113,729 higher than those with only a high school diploma.
  • Stronger public returns: Each college graduate contributes an additional $4,063 in annual tax revenue, repaying the state’s higher education investment within seven working years.
  • Expanded economic output: Michigan’s GDP increases by approximately $122,047 for every additional postsecondary graduate, fueling local business growth and investment.
  • Broader job creation: Each college graduate supports 5.6 additional jobs across the state’s economy.
  • Lower unemployment rates: Higher degree attainment correlates with greater job stability, with bachelor’s degree holders experiencing a 2.5% unemployment rate compared to 4.2% for high school graduates.

Source: MCAN

Partners

Grand Rapids Community College
To College Through College
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Cultivating Futures
Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential
Michigan Reconnect
Kent ISD
Michigan College Access Network
Ferris State University
Grand Rapids Promise Zone