Mission Statement

The Dana Brown Charitable Trust’s grant supported Viking Advantage, Beyond Housing’s program that helps make college possible for low-income students from the 24:1 Community. The program provides college savings accounts where every $1 the student and their family saves is matched with $3 to help them pay for college. Students also receive financial education, assistance completing applications, and college test prep.

Impact

The Viking Advantage program concluded another successful school year in May, with every single student in the program enrolling in college. During the 2015-2016 academic year 20 students participated in the program and between them saved a total of $6,152, which was matched (on a 3:1 basis) with $18,456 for a total of $24,608.

Beyond Housing is especially excited about the success of Viking Advantage students when they get to college. A recent analysis of their students in college showed that the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate for Viking Advantage students was 87%—far higher than is normal for first-generation, low-income students. This high retention rate shows that Viking Advantage students aren’t just getting to college—they’re getting to college with the knowledge, skills, and supports to succeed there.