Grateful for Partners who Believe Deeply
Sixup’s nearly yearlong partnership with KIPP has grown out of a shared understanding that the challenges low-income college students face are greater than academics and grades. Both organizations recognized that finances were often the true barrier for many students, causing some to drop out or transfer to less expensive institutions with lower graduation rates.
The Sixup-KIPP partnership has continued to expand, reaching students across Texas who question how to fill their college funding gaps. As an online student loan and support platform that invests in high-achieving, low-income college students, Sixup is often their only answer.
Sixup’s CEO and Founder, Sunwoo Hwang stated, “KIPP’s partnership has connected us with thousands of college students who struggle with financial gaps as I did. I know what it’s like to fill my own gap working multiple jobs, delaying graduation, and missing out on summer internships. We’re excited to partner with KIPP to provide their college students the financing, support and tools to perform academically, graduate on time and land dream jobs.”
Today, KIPP released a national survey of more than 3,000 alumni, validating two major challenges we often hear from our Sixup students — career-relevant internships are difficult to access and students worry about food.
According to the KIPP alumni survey summary, “The majority of [KIPP] alumni had jobs or internships last summer, but less than 30 percent said their job was aligned to their career aspirations… Nearly 60 percent of KIPP alumni said they worry about running out of food before they can afford to buy more. More than 40 percent said they have missed meals in order to pay for books, school fees, and other expenses.”
Sixup recognizes that the struggles of college students from low-income backgrounds are greater than paying for tuition. They often cannot access career-aligned experiences to prepare for their profession and worry about basic amenities like food. In working with organization partners like KIPP and others, we are committed to connecting students to resources.
Bryan Contreras, KIPP Houston Public Schools’ KIPP Through College Executive Director said, “We are grateful for Sixup’s shared vision of ensuring more low-income youth complete college. Partnering with Sixup has led to new opportunities for our alumni, 90% of whom are economically disadvantaged, to access finances to stay enrolled in college and on the path to college completion.”
According to a recent Bloomberg Philanthropies announcement for the American Talent Initiative, “Only one in four students on America’s campuses come from families on the bottom half of the income ladder…Limited access to higher education prevents many smart young people from contributing to the best of their abilities.”
Lack of capital is core to preventing low-income students from accessing the same pathways, opportunities and outcomes of higher-income peers.
Sixup provides college loans to low-income youth based on their achievements and college progression. In addition to loans, Sixup’s revolutionary approach includes student support services and “upmatching” students to the college of their choice. Sixup is changing the financial market conversation while also guaranteeing more students graduate from college prepared for professional opportunities.
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