College Now & Forever

College Now was the first college access organization in the U.S. It was founded by Robert Coplan, one of the founders of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan and Aronoff law firm. Named the Cleveland Scholarship Programs (CSP), the organization’s beginnings included partnering with a couple of high schools in the Cleveland Municipal School District by providing college scholarships to high school graduates.

Cleveland Scholarship Programs begins serving suburban Cleveland schools, expanding its reach beyond CMSD and parochial schools in the City of Cleveland.

Cleveland Scholarship Programs expands beyond school-based advising by launching college and career services in the community, creating new pathways of support for students and adults who are not served through CSP’s in-school programs. This expansion marks the beginning of the Resource Center, providing a central place for individuals to access guidance on college enrollment, financial aid, scholarships and career pathways.

Cleveland Scholarship Programs begins supporting adult learners with college access advising and scholarships through a grant from the Cleveland Foundation’s Jane D. White Fund. Recognizing that students of all ages need support to pursue higher education, CSP expands its services beyond traditional high school students to help adults navigate college enrollment, financial aid and the path toward achieving their educational goals.

Just 20 years after its founding, the college access model created by Cleveland Scholarship Programs had been replicated in 16 cities across the country, demonstrating the impact and influence of its innovative approach.

Cleveland Scholarship Programs and eight partner organizations incorporate the National College Access Network (NCAN) in Cleveland, establishing a national network dedicated to expanding college access and success.

Cleveland Scholarship Programs receives its first federal GEAR UP grant to support students at CMSD’s Wilbur Wright Middle School, expanding its commitment to college readiness and access.

Cleveland Scholarship Programs leverages the AmeriCorps College Guides program to ensure every CMSD high school has access to a dedicated college access advisor every day of the year.

In 2010, Mayor Frank Jackson brings together more than 70 partners to form the Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland, a collective effort to support college readiness, access and persistence for Cleveland Metropolitan School District graduates. College Now serves as a founding partner, fiscal agent and key collaborator in advancing programs that help students reach college completion.

College Now launches an innovative, web-based Mentoring program with a pilot cohort of 50 scholarship recipients, creating a new model of support that connects college students with caring mentors who provide guidance, encouragement and accountability throughout their higher education journey.

Scholarships help students access higher education, but they are only one piece of the journey to graduation. Recognizing the need for comprehensive support beyond financial aid, the Cleveland Scholarship Programs rebrands as College Now Greater Cleveland, reflecting its expanded mission to provide college access, advising and success services to students and adults throughout Northeast Ohio.

College Now and the Cleveland Foundation establish the Cleveland Foundation/College Now Top Scholars Program to support high-achieving CMSD students through personalized college advising. Top Scholars receive guidance on identifying best-fit colleges, navigating applications and financial aid, and accessing the resources needed to successfully enroll and thrive in higher education.

College Now launches the Student Loan Rescue program in response to the growing student loan debt crisis, providing borrowers with guidance and resources to better understand repayment options and manage their debt.

College Now establishes the Bag Lady Luncheon, a fundraising event featuring a silent auction of designer handbags, accessories and luxury experiences to support student scholarships and retention services. The event evolves into Bags & Bourbon and continues today as Ascend, College Now’s 60th anniversary signature celebration, carrying forward a legacy of philanthropy and community support.

After 50 years of helping students access higher education, College Now expands its work into advocacy, focusing on college affordability and policy solutions that support students across Ohio. Through partnerships, research and engagement with policymakers, College Now begins elevating student voices to help shape the future of higher education access.

College Now plays a key role in bringing Say Yes Cleveland to the community, helping create a citywide partnership designed to make college more affordable and attainable for Cleveland students. After years of collaboration among local institutions, Say Yes Cleveland is established in 2019 as the fourth community chapter of Say Yes to Education, providing scholarship support and wraparound services to help students access and complete higher education.

In fall 2019, College Now begins managing the Say Yes Scholars Program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), providing coaching and support to help students persist through college. Created as a resource for students who need additional guidance on campus, the program strengthens retention efforts and helps students stay on track toward graduation.

CMSD and the Cleveland Foundation introduce Planning and Career Exploration (PACE), a career readiness initiative embedded into grades 6–12 to help students explore career pathways and develop plans for their futures. College Now supports this work by helping students understand the education and training opportunities needed to achieve their goals, including college and other higher education pathways.

College Now unveils a refreshed brand identity that reflects the organization’s energy, optimism and continued evolution. While the look and feel have changed, the mission remains the same: helping students and adult learners access, afford and complete higher education while strengthening Northeast Ohio through opportunity and education.

College Now evolves its student support model by introducing Success Coaches for incoming first-year scholarship recipients and reimagining the Mentoring Program for 2027. This new approach combines personalized college coaching with career-focused mentorship, ensuring students receive the right support at the right time throughout their higher education journey.

In 2027, College Now will celebrate its 60th anniversary by honoring six decades of expanding educational opportunity across Northeast Ohio. Through storytelling, community events and signature celebrations, College Now reflects on the people, partnerships and moments that have shaped its legacy while looking ahead to the next generation of students and learners.

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