COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A partnership between Columbus City Schools, city leaders and Columbus State Community College has brought opportunities to hundreds of high school graduates and that program just expanded.

It’s called the Columbus Promise and it allows CCS graduates to go to college for free at Columbus State. The program began in November 2021 and on Monday, it was announced that the Columbus Promise is getting an additional $25 million dollars in funding. Columbus City School graduates from 2022 through 2024 had the chance to participate.

“It has increased our graduation rate, increased our student success rate and really prepared them for higher education opportunities right here in their community that may have been out of reach for some students,” said Dr. Angela Chapman, the superintendent of CCS.

Since Columbus Promise was launched, the district’s college-going rate has increased from 32% to 50%, and one-third of Columbus graduating seniors are Promise Scholars.

“I didn’t fully know where I would be or fully what my goals were, but I’ve been able to find a new path for myself through this program,” said Sarah Alexander, a Promise Scholar in her second year at Columbus State.

Alexander said the program has been life changing for her. She will graduate debt-free and she hopes to earn a full-time position at Nationwide Insurance.

“I’ll be able to further my education more afterwards and just do a lot more not having to worry about financial struggles,” Alexander said.

She is one of the hundreds of success stories and program leaders said there will be many more to come in the future. Phase two of the Columbus Promise is extended through the 2027 graduating class.

“It is taking students who just a couple years ago didn’t think college was for them and giving them opportunity and access and then a road to a middle class right here in Columbus,” said Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin.

With the $25 million pledged toward phase two, more than 2,200 additional high school graduates will get the chance to go to Columbus State at no cost. Learn more about how the program works at https://cbuspromise.com/.