University joins a growing cohort of Matriculate’s Pathways Partners.
CONTACT: Shikha Bhatnagar, Vice President, External Relations, Matriculate, [email protected], 646-408-3561;
Roderick Rose, Director of Diversity Enrollment & Community Partnerships, Undergraduate Admission, University of Denver, [email protected], 303-871-7890
DENVER, CO, January 15, 2025 — Matriculate, a national nonprofit organization that is closing the knowledge-access gap for high-achieving high school students from low-income and historically underrepresented communities, is pleased to welcome the University of Denver (DU) as its newest Pathways Partner. Through this partnership, the University of Denver will meet the full demonstrated financial need for at least two Matriculate students admitted to the University, starting with the Class of 2026. This is Matriculate’s first and only partnership in Colorado and the second west of the Mississippi.
Matriculate provides personalized, near-peer advising to high-achieving high school students from underserved communities, helping them through the complexities of college admissions and financial aid at no cost. Since 2014, Matriculate’s network of more than 4,500 undergraduate advisers has supported over 17,000 students in their journey to college.
The Pathways Partnerships program is a newly launched initiative at Matriculate. It seeks to increase college access for Matriculate high school students by offering them a broader range of options on their college application journey. Participating colleges and universities commit to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of at least two Matriculate high school fellows who enroll in their program. In addition, through their outreach, these universities help Matriculate identify prospective high school students to receive free advising services and promote Virtual Advising Fellowships on their campus. Three former Matriculate High School Fellows are currently enrolled at the University of Denver. With this partnership, Matriculate hopes to increase the number of students who see DU as a promising option for their college journey.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the University of Denver to attract high-achieving students who otherwise might not think a university like DU is an option for them,” says Todd Rinehart, DU’s Vice Chancellor for Enrollment. “It’s important that we remove the barriers and empower students to attend college, and the important work taking place at Matriculate will help us achieve that goal.”
“We are thrilled to partner with University of Denver and expand the reach of Matriculate advising to more talented students from historically marginalized backgrounds while also increasing visibility for DU as an institution at which these students can flourish,” says Bryden Sweeney-Taylor, Matriculate’s co-founder and interim CEO.
At DU, students build the skills, knowledge and perspective to make a difference in our world. On the Denver campus, just minutes from downtown Denver, and the mountain campus in the Colorado Rockies, the university fosters a Four-Dimensional Experience that focuses on intellectual growth, well-being, character and career-skill building.
Through this partnership, DU is committed to eliminating a significant barrier high school students face when attending college – the cost. By ensuring that at least two admitted Matriculate students have their full demonstrated financial need met, DU is enabling them to focus on their academic and personal growth and reduce the financial burden many low-income and underrepresented students and their families face. In addition to meeting full financial need, Matriculate applicants to DU will receive an application fee waiver. The University of Denver will also promote Matriculate’s Virtual Advising Fellowship (VAF) program to its students on campus – trained advisors who provide high-quality, near-peer support to high-achieving students from families with a combined household income of less than $90,000.
While DU will meet the demonstrated financial need for two students as part of this agreement, more Matriculate students may also gain admission based on their demonstrated need and existing University financial aid.
Established in 2014, Matriculate has served over 17,000 high school students nationwide through its innovative near-peer advising model. Matriculate’s work has been widely recognized for its impact on expanding access to selective colleges. Research shows that students participating in Matriculate’s advising programs are significantly more likely to attend high graduation rate colleges and universities. For more information about Matriculate, visit www.matriculate.org.
Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is a private university that empowers students who want to make a difference. Recognized as one of the top research universities in the country, DU has more than 200 academic programs serving about 13,000 graduate and undergraduate students. DU students benefit from an experience that channels their passion to serve the public good. Visit the University’s Newsroom or follow the University on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.
For more information about DU’s undergraduate programs, visit https://www.du.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs.