All-In Milwaukee Receives $7.4 Million Grant to Boost College Success for Low-Income Scholars

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, faces persistently low college completion rates among learners from low-income backgrounds, with a Wisconsin Policy Forum report estimating that only 15% of the city’s high school graduates earn a postsecondary degree within six years. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of jobs in Wisconsin that pay $50,000 or more annually require a degree (source: Wisconsin Policy Forum). This gap leaves many Milwaukee learners without access to the upward mobility that postsecondary education can provide.

To address this disconnect, Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit Ascendium has awarded a five-year, $7.4 million grant to All-In Milwaukee. This investment will help the college completion program to double its impact and serve 1,000 students annually.

All-In Milwaukee supports learners from low-income backgrounds by offering financial aid, advising, and career-focused support to help them complete college and build meaningful careers. The growth enabled by Ascendium’s funding will not only benefit more Milwaukee learners but also generate valuable insights to scale similar programs across the country, strengthening pathways to opportunity for students nationwide.

A Proven Solution with Room to Grow

Since launching in 2018, All-In Milwaukee has made significant strides in reducing financial and resource barriers for its scholars.

• 600 scholars have been supported, with 100% coming from low-income families, 99% identifying as students of color, and 87% being first-generation college students.
• 90% of scholars are on track to graduate in six years or less.
• 85% of scholars graduate with no student debt.
• 88% of scholar graduates who have secured employment or are pursuing graduate studies have chosen to remain in Wisconsin, helping to build a diverse talent pipeline for the state.

Despite these outcomes, the demand for support remains high, with All-In Milwaukee currently able to serve only about 30% of eligible applicants. Ascendium’s grant will enable the organization to expand its reach, ensuring more students can access the comprehensive support they need to succeed.

How All-In Milwaukee Works

Students apply to All-In Milwaukee in their senior year of high school. Partner colleges — Alverno College, Carroll University, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Whitewater, and Wisconsin Lutheran College — provide robust financial aid packages, while All-In Milwaukee provides an additional $12,000 in scholarships over four years and offers emergency grants through donor contributions.

Beyond financial support, the program offers comprehensive advising and career preparation, equipping students with the tools to thrive in competitive environments. Many universities lack the resources to fully meet the needs of learners from low-income backgrounds, but All-In Milwaukee bridges this gap by providing its scholars with access to the skills, networks, and financial stability essential for success.

Transforming Futures: Adrian Mora’s Story

Adrian Mora, a recent All-In Milwaukee scholar and 2023 graduate of Marquette University, exemplifies the program’s transformative impact. A first-generation college student, Adrian recalls his father reminding him he would need to work harder than other students who could lean on family advice to navigate college life. Thanks to All-In Milwaukee, however, Adrian received more than just financial support to ease the burden of paying for college.

Adrian Mora, an All-In Milwaukee scholar, celebrates his 2023 graduation from Marquette University with his parents. A member of All-In Milwaukee’s first graduating class, Adrian earned a degree in economics with a 3.71 GPA, graduated debt-free, and secured a full-time role as a portfolio analyst at Baird.

He also benefited from All-In Milwaukee’s scholar advisors, who assisted him with everything from securing a parking pass, completing FAFSA forms, and obtaining required textbooks, to addressing broader issues like study habits, mental health, and career planning.

The program also encouraged Adrian to pursue an internship at Milwaukee-based international financial services firm Baird, where he now works as a portfolio analyst. “I couldn’t imagine what my college experience would have been like without All-In Milwaukee,” Adrian said. “They were with me every step of the way.”

Baird and other Milwaukee-area employers benefit from All-In Milwaukee’s programming, which helps build a skilled, diverse workforce. At Northwestern Mutual, 10% of the 2024 intern class are All-In Milwaukee scholars, and five current employees are program graduates.

“With this transformative support from Ascendium Education Group, Milwaukee’s future is brighter than ever,” said Mary Ellen Stanek, president of Baird Funds and co-chief investment officer of Baird Advisors. “All-In Milwaukee continues to connect the dots between education and workforce development, strengthening our community in remarkable ways. Having five program graduates now working full-time at Baird is a testament to its success.”

A Shared Vision for Opportunity

Ascendium’s partnership with All-In Milwaukee reflects its commitment to elevating opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds. As a national funder focused on driving systemic change in postsecondary education and workforce training, Ascendium supports initiatives that remove barriers to success and create pathways to upward mobility.

“This partnership is about more than funding — it’s about creating a future where learners from low-income backgrounds have the resources, guidance, and opportunities to thrive,” said Brett Lindquist, Ascendium’s vice president of communications and community engagement. Brett highlighted that the grant includes a comprehensive assessment of the program’s effectiveness to guide similar efforts nationwide and explore potential in-state expansion. “By working together, we can amplify this impact, reach more learners, and shape a brighter future for students across the country.”

About All-In Milwaukee

All-In Milwaukee is a college completion program that provides financial aid, advising, program and career support to high potential, limited-income, diverse Milwaukee students, helping them complete college, build meaningful careers and transform the Milwaukee community. To learn more, visit allinmilwaukee.org.

About Ascendium

Ascendium Education Group is committed to making education and training beyond high school a reality for more people. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we fund initiatives across the U.S. that help learners from low-income backgrounds achieve upward mobility; provide student and employee success solutions to colleges and businesses; invest in education-focused innovations to improve learner outcomes; and provide information, tools and counseling to help millions of borrowers successfully repay their federal student loans. While we have many roles, we have one goal — elevating opportunity by creating a world where everyone can rise to their highest potential. To learn more, visit ascendiumeducation.org.