One Million Degrees (OMD) is an independent nonprofit that provides a promising student support model to help community college students complete their education and pursue career pathways that lead to economic independence. OMD provides holistic wraparound support to students at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), with the model having been scaled across all seven community colleges in the CCC system.
Key Insights:
- A 2017 study found students joining the OMD program during high school were 73% more likely to enroll in college and complete a degree in three years.
- The OMD model is rooted in research and provides comprehensive student support that addresses the financial, academic, personal, and professional barriers that community college students are faced with daily.
- The model has been shown to reduce “summer melt,” with data showing an increase in college enrollment for students transitioning from high schools to community colleges.
- OMD highlights the possibilities and benefits of partnerships, with over 20 business leaders and executives providing counsel on career readiness programming and cultivating coaching and career-related opportunities for students.