Bottom Line

Bottom Line partners with first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds to get into college, graduate from college, and successfully launch a career by providing one-on-one guidance and mentoring. Founded in 1997 as a small nonprofit organization supporting 25 high school seniors in Boston, Bottom Line has grown dramatically over the last two decades to now serve approximately 8,000 students across Massachusetts, New York City, and Chicago.

Bottom Line’s Chicago Region has grown from serving 150 students six years ago to more than 1,500 students this year, representing more than 100 high schools and 70 neighborhoods in Chicago. This past year, 99% percent of our high school Access students were accepted to college, and 89% of our college Success students persisted into their second year of college. The program is unique in that full-time, trained Bottom Line advisors regularly meet one-on-one with students all the way through college graduation for up to 6 years. Our program is uniquely focused on helping students choose a school they can afford, ensuring students graduate with a manageable amount of debt and are poised to successfully launch their careers.