Applications Considered for a Scholarship

• 146 Adult Learners
• 461 College Savings Account/Match program
• 1,424 Traditional

Internal Administrative Review – Step One in Review Process

• After initial internal review the day after the deadline, 4% were added to applications to be reviewed and considered for a scholarship. After administrative review, 3% of fully completed and submitted applications were declined because they were not eligible or did not provide required materials (2% in Traditional, 5% among College Savings Match, and 7% among Adult Learners). Per NCAN, the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation experienced an average annual rate of 10% not being considered after administrative review. KC Scholars had a decline rate of 4% after administrative review during the 2017 cycle – an improvement of 1%.

Awards Made:

• • 137 Adult Learner scholarships
  • 438 college savings accounts seeded
  • 70 in the College Savings Account Match and Incentive program(a 40% increase in awards as compared to original plan)
  • 344 Traditional (11th grade) (20% increase in number of awards made in 2017 and 38% increase in awards as compared to the original plan of awarding 250) 

County Representation among Awarded:

• • For Adult Learner recipients, 1% are from Cass, 9% from Clay, 72% from Jackson, 5% from Platte, 3% from Johnson, and 10% from Wyandotte.
  • For college savings accounts seeded, 4% were from Cass, 3% from Clay, 49% from Jackson, 14% from Platte, 1% from Johnson, and 20% from Wyandotte.
  • For the 70 in the College Savings Account Match and Incentive program, 14% are from Cass, 14% from Clay, 21% from Jackson, 14% from Platte, 14% from Johnson, and 21% from Wyandotte.
  • For Traditional (11th grader) recipients, 3% are from Cass, 6% from Clay, 47% from Jackson, 13% from Platte, 3% from Johnson, and 28% from Wyandotte.

Schools Participation 

• • Students in the college savings account seeded program are from 63 high schools.
  • Students in the College Savings Match and Incentive program are from 33 high schools.
  • Students selected for Traditional (11th grade) scholarships are from 70 high schools.
  • Three homeschooled students were selected for the college savings account seed program and two for the Traditional scholarship.
  • Overall, awardees come from 81 unique high schools and five are homeschooled.

First- Generation College Status:

• 79% of Adult Learner recipients are first generation college.
• 63% of college savings accounts seeded are first generation college.
• 64% of College Savings Account Match and Incentive program participants are first generation college.
• 84% of Traditional (11th grader) recipients are first generation college.
• Overall, 73% of awardees will be the first in their family to complete college.

Race and Ethnicity:

• 82% of Adult Learner recipients are individuals of color.
• 73% of college savings accounts seeded are individuals of color.
• 54% of College Savings Account Match and Incentive program participants are individuals of color.
• 74% of Traditional (11th grader) recipients are individuals of color.
• Overall, 73% or 671 of awardees are individuals of color (483 or 76% of 2017 awardees were individuals of color).

ACT Scores (only 11th grade applicants submitted an ACT, and it was required only if their GPA was below a 2.5. However, about one-half of the 11th graders did upload an ACT score. It is also important to note that these are 11th graders, so they had taken the ACT test only once and have at least five more test-taking opportunities before the end of their senior year).

• 64% of Traditional (11th grade) recipients scored at 21 or above (21 is considered college ready).
• 16% scored 22 or higher, placing them in the 90th percentile nationwide.
• 1% scored 32 or higher, placing them in the top 98th percentile nationwide.
• The average ACT score was 22.7 – higher than the MO, KS, and national averages.

GPAs

• Among Adult Learner recipients, 75% earned below a 3.0 on previously taken college credits, and 25% earned a 3.0 or higher on previously taken college credits.
• Among college savings accounts seeded, 16% have a GPA below 3.0; 84% have a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0; 59% have a 3.5 or higher; and 21% have a 4.0.
• Among the 70 in the College Savings Account Match and Incentive program, 0% have a GPA below 3.0; 95% have a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0; 53% have a GPA of 3.5 or higher; and 56% have a 4.0.
• Among Traditional (11th grader) recipients, 2% have a GPA below 3.0; 98% have a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0; 86 have a GPA of 3.5 or higher; and 23% have a 4.0.

Low-and Modest-Income Measured by EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) of ≤ $12,000

• Among Adult Learner recipients, 58% have a zero EFC and 77% have a 4,000 or less EFC.
• Among college savings accounts seeded, 44% have a zero EFC and 74% have a 4,000 or less EFC.
• Among the 70 in the College Savings Account Match and Incentive program, 57% have a zero EFC and 82% have a 4,000 or less EFC.
• Among Traditional (11th grader) recipients, 60% have a zero EFC and 95% have a 4,000 or less EFC.
• Overall, 82% of awardees have an EFC of 4,000 or less.

Previous College Credits Earned

• Among Adult Learner recipients, 90% had previously earned 21 or more college credits.

Interesting Facts:

• The youngest recipient is 14 years old and the oldest is 68 years old.
• There are two sisters that received awards – one a Traditional scholarship and one selected for the College Savings Match and Incentive program.
• There is one Adult Learner recipient with one child selected to receive a Traditional scholarship.

Six adults applicants also had one or two children also apply for the college savings or Traditional scholarship program; one adult had two 9th graders apply.