The start of a new school year brings more than fresh notebooks and new classrooms. It brings possibilities. For students across the country, heading back to school means taking another step toward a degree, a rewarding career and a brighter future. But for many, that journey comes with obstacles, from the rising cost of education to a lack of support and career connections.
Over the past five years, KeyBank Foundation has invested more than $32 million in education-focused programs designed to help students succeed at every stage of their journey, from accessing higher education, to persisting through challenges, to preparing for meaningful careers after graduation. Across the country, nonprofit and higher education partners are helping turn that investment into measurable outcomes and life-changing opportunities for students.
Opening Doors Through Scholarships and Access
For many students, college begins with a simple question: Can I afford it? Scholarship programs supported by KeyBank Foundation are helping make the answer "yes."
In Pittsburgh, support of scholarships through Pittsburgh Promise is helping students pursue higher education while contributing to broader community success. Today, Pittsburgh's high school graduation rate has reached 87%, college persistence has climbed to 78%, and achievement gaps continue to narrow.
In two of KeyBank's largest markets, Buffalo and Cleveland, KeyBank Foundation has provided longstanding support for Say Yes Buffalo and Say Yes Cleveland. These initiatives help remove financial barriers to higher education by connecting eligible students with tuition scholarships, wraparound support services and resources that help students succeed from high school through college and beyond. More recently, KeyBank Foundation also supported the expansion of Say Yes into Niagara Falls, helping extend access to these resources to additional students and families.
At the University of Colorado Foundation, scholarship support is helping students access higher education and stay on track to complete their degrees. Through the program, 20 students received scholarships, and 10 junior recipients are on track to graduate by or before summer 2026. Students report reduced financial stress, less reliance on student loans and a greater ability to focus on academics, leadership opportunities, and personal and professional development as they prepare for life after graduation.
A scholarship is more than financial assistance. It's reassurance, confidence and the freedom to focus on the future.
Supporting Success Beyond Enrollment
Getting into college is one milestone. Staying on track is another.
Organizations like Native Forward Scholars Fund are helping students navigate that journey through leadership development, financial literacy and career-readiness programming. Over the past two years, Native Forward engaged 427 Native students, more than doubling its goal, while reaching a population where 97% of participants come from low-to-moderate-income households.
In Oregon, Latino Network's Escalera and Fuerza programs are helping students stay engaged and focused on their goals. The results are powerful: 93% of seniors graduated from high school, and 94% of summer participants enrolled in college the following fall.
Behind every percentage is a student who stayed the course when challenges could have derailed their path.
Building Pathways from Education to Employment
Students don't just want a diploma, they want success after graduation. That's why career exploration and workforce development programs are so important.
Through Hartford Promise's College to Career Pipeline, 475 students received career coaching, professional development and real-world work experience. The program helped students secure 35 internships and 27 jobs, while connecting them with more than 60 employers.
Meanwhile, students participating in Le Moyne College's ERIE21 Tech Saturdays are exploring STEM careers through hands-on learning, workplace visits and mentorship opportunities that help them envision futures in technology, healthcare and other high-demand fields
Beyond the Numbers
The true impact of education isn't measured only by grades, diplomas or statistics. It's first-generation college students who realize higher education is within reach. It's teenagers who discover a career path they never knew existed. It's graduates who walk across a stage knowing they have the skills, confidence and support to build a successful future.
As students head back to school this year, many are doing so with greater opportunity, stronger support systems and a clearer path forward. That's the power of investing in education and in the potential of every student, helping them thrive today while building the workforce, leaders and innovators who will strengthen our communities and economy for years to come. By supporting students, KeyBank Foundation is helping create pathways to prosperity that benefit individuals, families and the communities we serve.
