The Rising Stars Program provides a unique level of support that is student-centric and highly personal. Through the student’s Success Team, Rising Stars are provided with comprehensive, wrap-around services.

College & Career Advising

Each Rising Star is matched with a College & Career Advisor that works with them from the beginning of their journey with SRA all the way through college graduation. The College & Career Advisor connects students to all of the resources available through Students Rising Above and works with each student to identify their strengths and areas for growth. The Advisor provides holistic logistical and emotional support for the Rising Star.

College Admissions Counseling

Starting in their senior year of high school, each Rising Star student is matched with a College Admissions Counselor who helps them to develop a highly personalized college list ensuring that students are identifying colleges that would be good academic, social and financial fits for them. The College Admissions Counselor then guides the student through every aspect of the college application and financial aid process ensuring that each student is accepted into a college they are excited about attending with a strong financial aid award.

Healthcare Navigation

A dedicated SRA staff member is responsible for all healthcare and medical insurance related questions from SRA students and SRA Advisors. Support ranges from ensuring all students have health insurance, assisting a student in finding a health care/dental/vision provider and teaching students how to access their insurance. The Healthcare Navigator has built a network of healthcare providers who are committed to giving back by providing pro bono or deeply discounted services for SRA students.

Academic Support

When an academic subject gets challenging, students can be matched with a tutor to help support them grasp difficult concepts. SRA’s goal is to help students to be successful with college curriculum, decreasing the chances of needing to repeat coursework or to change career paths.

Financial Support & Literacy

Students learn from the outset that college is a business decision, practicing strategies like choosing the right college, maximizing financial aid and obtaining competitive scholarships. After leveraging all forms of financial aid, SRA provides direct financial assistance to Rising Star students by paying some of the costs not covered by financial aid. Each year, students create a budget with their Advisor to build foundational financial management skills.

Comprehensive Career Development

Through our six-year career development curriculum, students are prepared to successfully transition into the workforce with a robust set of experiences and professional skills. Students attend targeted workshops, work with resume editors, and receive personalized career coaching. Internships

Mental Health Support

SRA recognizes the benefit and need for mental health support. When students are selected into the program, they have access to ongoing, individualized behavioral health care with a licensed therapist of their choosing, up to two 45 sessions per month and unlimited texting and video messaging with their therapist.

Through our holistic approach, students are graduating college at rates 6 times higher than the national average for students from low-income backgrounds.

SOAR

Students Online Achieving Results (SOAR) is a virtual, cohort-based advising program to increase college persistence rates, graduation rates, and obtaining career-ladder jobs. SOAR connects Scholars from all over the US to an SRA College & Career Advisor, Peer Mentor or New Grad/Career Mentor, and a cohort of college peers to build a supportive, online community.

Apply for the 2025-2026 SOAR Program

High School to College Transition

First-year SOAR Summer Term supports the prevention of summer melt by engaging rising first-year college students and ensuring that they are logistically and socio-emotionally prepared to start their college journey in the fall. 

Virtual Community of College Peers

Using a cohort-based model, the SOAR Program fosters belonging by curating virtual spaces where college students can build community amongst their college peers, share experiences, wins, and challenges, and learn together. 

College & Career Advising

Each SOAR cohort is matched with a College & Career Advisor who facilitates the cohort’s monthly, curriculum-based hangouts. SOAR Scholars are welcome and encouraged to seek supplemental support from their Advisor.

Four-year College & Career Curriculum

The SOAR program’s four-year college and career curriculum provides timely programming from the summer before a student’s first year of college through graduation. The curriculum fosters personal and professional growth through collaborative, discussion-based, and student-centric approaches. Participants also engage in a robust professional mentoring component in their field of interest during their final year of undergraduate school to support the transition to life after college. 

Two-year to Four-year Transfer Support

The SOAR Program welcomes students attending both two-year and four-year colleges and universities. SOAR Scholars attending two-year colleges receive supplemental programming to ensure that they are aware of the academic pathways available to them and to support them in realizing their academic and career goals. 

Peer Mentor Internship

Each SOAR cohort is matched with a Peer Mentor intern, a more senior-level college student. Peer Mentors co-facilitate alongside the Advisors, share their personal experiences, challenges, and successes with their cohort, and provide invaluable insights and advice. Peer Mentor interns develop leadership, communication, mentoring, task management, and facilitation skills.

Students Rising Above has become a model for helping first-generation students from low-income communities overcome the odds to securing careers. The SRA Hub is a first-of-its-kind online resource designed to share that experience with students and educators nationwide. Offering 24/7 access, the SRA Hub provides students comprehensive, up-to-date information, personal advisors to facilitate college and career opportunities, and a supportive online community of motivated peers.

24-hour access to professional advisors

Answering questions on everything from college admissions to interview prep to budget basics.

Easily accessible resources and tools

Including webinars, articles, blog posts, checklists, message boards, videos, and one-on-one advising.

Financial aid support and advocacy

Including financial aid award comparisons, scholarship application support, and general financial aid planning.

Career development advice and guidance

Helping students explore and prepare for a variety of careers through the SRA Hub’s Resume Builder, Cover Letter Builder, Career Resource Library, and interview coaching.

High school-to-college transition and navigation

For seamless college enrollment, positive transition to college life, and postsecondary success.

College-based student cohorts

Students stay connected throughout college and form supportive on-campus communities.

SRA Hub for Educators

Teachers, counselors, and nonprofit staff can implement high-quality college and career readiness tools through an SRA Hub curriculum designed especially for educators.

The Students Rising Above Alumni Program extends services and resources to alumni of the Rising Stars and SOAR programs post graduation.

Programs and Services:

• 1:1 Check-ins with SRA’s Alumni Program Lead
• Document Review & Interview Practice
• Mentorship Programs
• Alumni Newsletters
• Networking and social events
• SRA Alumni Association LinkedIn
• SRA Alumni Collective

Are you an SRA alumni? Visit the SRA Alumni Collective through the link below and register to connect with fellow alumni, access these services, and more!

SRA Alumni Collective: Under Construction

Stay tuned for exciting updates! We’re working hard to bring you an incredible new platform soon.