Welcome to the Philadelphia Education Fund's
College Access Program

You can go to college! We can show you how!

Many students and adults dream of going to college but think it is an impossible dream. Through the Philadelphia Education Fund's College Access Program, we know how to make your dreams come true. Visit with our caring and knowledgeable coordinators in your own school or visit us at one of our College Access Centers to learn how you can become one of the thousands of Philadelphians who work with us each year to become future college students!

Who is College Access for?

Middle Grades and High School Students from Select Schools : College Access is for any School District student who dreams of going to college, and attends a College Access school. If you are a current student at one of these schools or are considering becoming a student at one of these schools, contact us right away. We show you how to go to college and can even help you get you a scholarship from the Philadelphia Scholars Program that will help you make it through college.

Everyone Else Too! : If you do not attend a College Access school but would like to receive college-going assistance, you can visit us at any one of our three College Access Centers.  

  What does it cost?

Our services are FREE! That's right. There is no charge whether you are in a College Access school or whether you visit us at a College Access Center.  

  How to find us?

To sign up for the College Access Program as part of the school cohort or to receive our other free services, please contact Thomasennia Amos at 215-665-1400 ext 3316. Or, drop in to see one of our caring and knowledgeable coordinators at one of our three College Access Centers:  

An Extra Bonus! Last Dollar Scholarships

If you attend a College Access school [hot link] and take part in the College Access Program you can apply for Last Dollar Scholarships from the Philadelphia Education Fund's Philadelphia Scholars Program. These scholarships provide money for any unmet need: that is any dollars needed after receiving financial aid and contributing what you can. Awards range from $200 to $5,000 and are renewable for up to six years to students in good standing at accredited colleges and universities across the country. Click here for more information on the Philadelphia Scholars Program.

More Information about the College Access Program

The Philadelphia Education Fund's College Access Program provides college-going awareness and readiness services to over 3,000 students each year who are enrolled in 21 middle and high schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Services to students can begin as early as the 6th grade and continue through the senior year of high school. These services include guiding middle school students through career awareness and study skills development, college and career workshops, one-on-one advising and counseling, college visits, assisting with all aspects of financing college, and helping school faculty create a school-wide college going culture.

The College Access Program also directs three community-based centers – located in North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and the Gallery Shopping Mall in Center City – that serve a population of adult and school-aged college-bound individuals from the community at large. AT the Centers, College Access Coordinators provide guidance and access to college reference materials, computer labs, financial aid and scholarship information, on-line “virtual” campus tours, and standardized testing information for over 6,000 students and city residents each year.

College Access Program to receive Black Wharton Undergraduate Association Award

The Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program has been chosen to receive the Black Wharton Undergraduate Association’s first inaugural Glavanizing Adolescents towards Achievement award. The recognition will take place at the Association’s Gala Dinner on Thursday April 30th from 7 to 10 pm at the University of Pennsylvania Houston Hall of Flags, 3417 Spruce Street.

The Black Wharton Undergraduate Association (BWUA) values responsible, world citizens and organizations and recognizes that it is imperative that all citizens unite and support one another in an effort to survive these trying times. Proceeds from all ticket sales and sponsorship from the gala will be donated to benefit the Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program.

For more information, please contact Haywood L. Perry III by phone at (301)266-7315 or via email at hperry@sas.upenn.edu.

College Access Scholarship Workshop a Great Success

Nearly 80 people participated in our “Scholarship Money Market” session where students shopped for and learned about obtaining scholarships and financial aid. Students came from Edison High School, Kensington High School, Franklin Learning Center, Fels High School, Nueva Esperanza High School, Penn Wood High School, Lincoln High School, the Charter School for Architecture and Design, and more. College students from East Stroudsburg, Misericordia University and West Chester also attended.

College Access Scholarship Workshop Flyer