2025-2026
IMPACT REPORT OUR CHALLENGE Many students have the ability, ambition, and determination to succeed. Too often, their hard work isn't matched with the relationships, experiences, and resources that make their potential actual. College access is only the beginning. Longterm success also requires more than academic achievement. Students need social capital, meaningful real-world experiences, and trusted relationships that transform hard work with opportunity.
OUR MISSION Carolina Youth Coalition nurtures and propels high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college.
OUR SOLUTION Future Fellows ignites academic confidence, career curiosity, and a successful transition into high school. Torch Fellows prepares Fellows to identify, gain admission to, and pay for their best-fit college pathway. College Fellows propels Fellows through college completion and into fulfilling careers.
OUR FELLOWS
406
TORCH FELLOWS 19% INCREASE FROM 24-25
80% FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS* $39,651 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME 92% PELL GRANT-ELIGIBLE* 59 HIGH SCHOOLS REPRESENTED
222
COLLEGE FELLOWS 6% INCREASE FROM 24-25
54% ATTENDED UNC SYSTEM SCHOOLS
*BASED ON 104 SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2026 **COMPARISON DATA BASED ON NON-FIRST GEN TESTERS
TORCH FELLOWS
5 PT
AVERAGE SENIOR ACT GROWTH 23 - AVERAGE SENIOR ACT (US AVG - 19 | NC AVG - 18) **
51%
MET 3+ ACT BENCHMARKS 26% MET ALL BENCHMARKS (US AVG - 31% | NC AVG - 25%) **
100%
COLLEGE MATRICULATION 4-YEAR (94%) | 2-YEAR (6%)
$39.7M
SCHOLARSHIPS & AID EARNED $14M SCHOLARSHIPS & AID REDEEMED
64%
OF SENIORS ATTENDING COLLEGE DEBT-FREE 73% OF BORROWERS BELOW NC AVERAGE
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