Welcome to CU Washington

What happens when you reimagine what higher education can look like?

You recognize there are millions of Americans outside the traditional college age of 18-21 with some college but no degree who are devoted to improving their communities, their families and themselves.
You create an individualized, student driven curriculum with small cohorts that stimulate thought and a sense of belonging.
You provide holistic support services that recognize the specific and varied needs of adult learners, parenting-students, former and currently incarcerated students, and the myriad other identities that individuals hold.
You innovate with college credits for prior learning (LIP-Learning in Public), intergenerational learning models and professional development pathways that meet the needs of both the student and the workplace.

What happens when you reimagine what higher education can look like? You create College Unbound.

CU is an accredited non-profit college with a mission to reinvent the higher education experience for underserved adult learners, using a student-driven model of rigorous and engaged scholarship. Through low tuition, asynchronous class schedules, and awarding credits for prior knowledge, CU aims to graduate students with little to no student loan debt on an accelerated timeline. With a history of proven success, College Unbound is expanding into Washington to meet the needs of the 1,164,420 residents with some college and no degree.

1,164,420
The number of Washington State residents who started college and dropped out

$21,387
The difference in average income between WA state residents with a BA and those without a degree

23.8%
The percent of WA state residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree

Washington State is home to 1,164,420 residents with some college and no degree. Nearly 70% of jobs in the state require some college or more, while only 58% of the population meet these requirements. The average income in Washington for individuals holding jobs not requiring a degree is $48,819, while the average salary for those with a BA jumps to $63,477. College Unbound is a program that will serve the state's workforce development mission to increase the number of residents with a degree or certificate to 70%, while targeting populations most in need of support with proven success in increasing student’s upward mobility and financial stability.

1,164,420

The number of Washington State residents who started college and dropped out

$21,387

The difference in average income between WA state residents with a BA and those without a degree

23.8%

The percent of WA state residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree

Washington State is home to 1,164,420 residents with some college and no degree. Nearly 70% of jobs in the state require some college or more, while only 58% of the population meet these requirements. The average income in Washington for individuals holding jobs not requiring a degree is $48,819, while the average salary for those with a BA jumps to $63,477. College Unbound is a program that will serve the state's workforce development mission to increase the number of residents with a degree or certificate to 70%, while targeting populations most in need of support with proven success in increasing student’s upward mobility and financial stability.

What happens when you reimagine what higher education can look like?

Established as an initiative of Big Picture Learning in Rhode Island in 2009, College Unbound (CU) is in the beginning stages of expanding into Washington State. CU is an accredited non-profit college with a mission to reinvent the higher education experience for underserved adult learners, using a student-driven model of rigorous and engaged scholarship. Students are able to attend full time while working and raising families. When compared to the average 4 year college, students who attend CU overrepresent people of color, women, low incomes families, and students who are parenting, all while boasting a significantly higher than average graduation rate for the same populations. Through low tuition, accommodating schedules, and awarding credits for prior knowledge, CU aims to graduate students with little to no student loan debt on an accelerated timeline. With a history of proven success, College Unbound is expanding into Washington targeting service to our 1,164,420 residents with some college and no degree.

College Unbound partners with local businesses, community based organizations, and school districts to identify cohorts of adults who are ready to earn their bachelor's degree. CU pursues partnership with organizations that employ and/or serve populations similar to CU’s target student population; including people from low income families, people of color, parents and caregivers, and women.

2.5 years

The average amount of time it takes CU students to earn their BA

72% of CU students identify as female	90% of CU students are over age 25
79% of CU students are people of color	77% of CU students are parents

If you are interested in learning more about College Unbound in Washington as a partner, supporter, or funder please contact:

Megan Demeroutis
Director of College Unbound in Washington
[email protected]

Browse our website to learn more about College Unbound and read stories about our alumni!