About Us:
Mission & Impact
Steppingstone envisions a world where all students, regardless of obstacles or background, can actualize the life-transforming benefits of a college degree.
Our Mission
Steppingstone prepares students from under-resourced communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college.
- In Boston, we provide academic, social-emotional, and college readiness programming from as early as fifth grade and continuing through college graduation.
- Nationally, we connect the people, practices, and innovations essential for eliminating barriers to college and career success.
Our Impact
At Steppingstone, we invest in futures. We work to eliminate barriers and promote equal opportunity in education to positively impact Scholars, their families, and our larger community. With over 35 years of experience serving more than 1,200 Scholars each year, our results are proven.
The Need
In Boston, the majority of public school students do not access a bachelor’s degree.
A college degree is a proven pathway to upward economic mobility. The benefits of a four-year degree are numerous, ranging from higher lifetime earnings to better health outcomes, greater community involvement, and lower rates of unemployment. These benefits extend to future generations.
Steppingstone’s work has never been more urgent and more important.
We provide college-access programs to families who dream of college for their children, but face serious obstacles. It’s our job to help students navigate barriers on the way to fulfilling their aspirations.
A college degree is a proven pathway to upward economic mobility. The benefits of a four-year degree are numerous, ranging from higher lifetime earnings to better health outcomes, greater community involvement, and lower rates of unemployment. These benefits extend to future generations.
Steppingstone’s work has never been more urgent and more important.
We provide college-access programs to families who dream of college for their children, but face serious obstacles. It’s our job to help students navigate barriers on the way to fulfilling their aspirations.
34%
While Boston’s high school graduation rates increased in 2025, college enrollment dropped—with only 34% of public high school graduates enrolling in four-year colleges. Each year, thousands of students in Boston are left behind.
The Results
Steppingstone continues to demonstrate high rates of high school and college completion among the students we serve.* Since 1990:
99%
of Scholars graduate from high school.
91%
of Scholars enroll in a four-year college.
80%
earn a four-year college degree within six years.
*Steppingstone has information for 93% of Scholars who have completed the academic component and are old enough to have graduated from high school.
**BPS data includes graduates of the three public exam schools, who tend to enroll at and graduate from four-year colleges at a much higher rate than other public schools.
For more than 30 years, Steppingstone has provided Scholars with an environment that pairs high expectations with meaningful support. While Scholars’ accomplishments are diverse, they all share a love of learning, a commitment to education, and the knowledge that they can rise to any challenge with confidence in their own abilities to succeed.
**BPS data includes graduates of the three public exam schools, who tend to enroll at and graduate from four-year colleges at a much higher rate than other public schools.
For more than 30 years, Steppingstone has provided Scholars with an environment that pairs high expectations with meaningful support. While Scholars’ accomplishments are diverse, they all share a love of learning, a commitment to education, and the knowledge that they can rise to any challenge with confidence in their own abilities to succeed.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
Steppingstone is an educational nonprofit which serves students of various backgrounds. It does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs or other organization-administered activities.
© Copyright 2026 Steppingstone Foundation, Inc.
