Become a PeerForward Partner School
Empower Students. Strengthen Your College-Going Culture.
PeerForward partners directly with high schools to improve FAFSA completion, college applications, and postsecondary planning. Our model activates the most influential people in any school: your students.
Join our Network of Schools and Colleges!
PeerForward currently works with some of the largest school districts and colleges in America. Over the last three decades, we have ignited the power of peer influence in more than 600 high schools and colleges. Our schools are leaders in the movement for student-driven positive change.
$100 million
grants unlocked annually for students through our work.
700K+ students
impacted through our hands-on workshops and campaigns since 1996.
30 years
PeerForward has served students for three decades in 600+ schools nationwide.
30 Years of PeerForward
(Formerly College Summit)
30 Years of PeerForward
(Formerly College Summit)
PeerForward began as College Summit in 1996 as a single workshop with four students in the basement of a community center in Washington, D.C. Today, we train 750+ Peer Leaders a year in 11 states and Bermuda, who in turn assist thousands more each year.
WHAT WE DO
PeerForward conducts workshops to train teams of student “Peer Leaders” in your school. The Peer Leaders run college-going campaigns, increasing FAFSA and application completion, and creating a culture where students support and inspire fellow students towards higher education.
WHY IT WORKS: The best predictor of college enrollment for students is whether they have friends who plan on going. PeerForward harnesses that peer influence, and pairs it with hands-on advising, tools, and school-based support.
The Impact of PeerForward
Compared to similar schools, PeerForward high schools achieve, on average, a
26% higher completion rate of financial aid applications.
Annually, PeerForward unlocks
$136 Million in college funding.
“PeerForward showed me that there is always opportunity all around me so anything I want to do is always possible. I used to limit my dreams because I knew I didn’t have the money or didn’t know where to start and they showed me that I have a network of people willing to help me do whatever it is that I aspire to do.”
— Zipporah Sewell, High School Class of 2019, Robert Morris University Class of 2023
Is the PeerForward Model Right for YOUR School?
PeerForward is a strong fit for schools that believe in the power of students and want to strengthen their college-going culture. PeerForward works best in schools that believe students can be powerful leaders—and want to build capacity for their school counselors.
PeerForward May Be Right for Your School If
- Your advisors or guidance counselors feel stretched thin with so many students to serve — and it would be a “win” to amplify the college-preparedness work they are doing.
- You’re striving to create a consistent schoolwide message about postsecondary success, including looking to boost FAFSA completion, college application rates, confidence, and awareness of options and logistics.
- You believe your students have the potential to lead and inspire their peers. You want students to take ownership of their futures and support one another along the way.
- You value data-driven approaches and want visible improvements in college-going outcomes. You want a proven, structured program—not another initiative your staff has to build from scratch.
With PeerForward, Your School Receives
- Hands-on training and leadership development for selected students who become Peer Leaders —- powerful catalysts for change. They will influence their classmates and drive schoolwide FAFSA and application momentum.
- Proven, research-based campaigns and playbooks that boost FAFSA completion, college applications, and postsecondary readiness. Ready-to-use tools and templates that make it easier for staff to coordinate postsecondary planning.
- Real-time data and insights so your team can monitor campaign success and adjust strategies as needed. Including yearlong support from a PeerForward Advisor to guide campaigns, track progress, and ensure your school hits key milestones.
- A stronger, more sustainable and structured approach for school counselors to activate, develop, and manage a team of student leaders.
Download Our FREE College Culture Assessment!
Does Your School Nurture a College-Going Culture for Its Students? Let’s Dig In.
Inside this download, you will find:
• PeerForward’s rubric to assess your school’s college-going culture.
• Insight into strengths and gaps across key focus areas.
• A simple scoring tool to guide next steps and planning.
Hear from an Administrator
"A student came to the PeerForward event but didn't want to apply, just listen. Our students convinced him that applying to more schools could be his first victory step towards a future career, and what's the harm in a free application? He applied and was accepted! Peer Leadership made the difference.”
— Sunta Harris,
Advisor, Dr. Henry Wise High School
Hear from a Principal
“In a high-needs setting like ours, where systemic inequities often limit opportunity, PeerForward has created a pathway—not just to college, but to confidence, leadership, and lifelong agency.”
– Dr. Melissa Nankin,
Principal,International High School at Largo
Hear from a Student
“I didn’t know much about college before PeerForward. I always thought I would be in debt and that going to college was a scary process. PeerForward helped me change those perceptions I had and educated me on how things work. I don’t know if I would’ve been as okay going into college without PeerForward. Having the support from the team and being able to get help along the way is one of the main reasons I enjoy PeerForward.”
– Daniel Del Cid, PeerForward Alum
Current student at Tulane University, LA
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