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

MILWAUKEE (Jan. 28, 2025) — Milwaukee has persistently low college completion rates among low-income students. A Wisconsin Policy Forum report estimates 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. This gap leaves many Milwaukee students without access to the upward mobility that postsecondary education can provide.

To address this disconnect, Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit Ascendium has awarded All-In Milwaukee a five-year, $7.4 million grant. In a joint press conference on Tuesday morning, the two organizations shared how this investment will help the college completion program 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 benefit more Milwaukee learners and 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 significantly reduced financial and resource barriers for its scholars.

• 600 scholars have been supported; 100% come from low-income families, 99% identify as students of color, and 87% are first-generation college students.

• 90% of scholars are on track to graduate in six years or less.

• 85% of scholars and graduates have 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. All-In Milwaukee currently serves only about 30% of eligible applicants. Ascendium’s grant will enable the organization to expand its reach, ensuring that more students can access the 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. All-In Milwaukee delivers 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. Still, All-In Milwaukee bridges this gap by providing its scholars access to 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. Adrian, a first-generation college student, recalls his father reminding him that 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. He also benefited from All-In Milwaukee’s scholar advisors, who assisted him with securing a parking pass, completing FAFSA forms, and obtaining required textbooks to address broader issues like study habits, mental health, and career planning.

The program also encouraged Adrian to pursue an internship at Baird, a Milwaukee-based international financial services firm, 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. It helps 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 reach their highest potential. To learn more, visit ascendiumeducation.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.