Four-Year Institutions &
Community Colleges
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, with the support of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, has convened two and four-year institutions from across the country in an effort to expand and diversify the transfer pipeline to high-graduation-rate colleges and universities.
Community Colleges
Four-Year InstitutionFour Year Institutions
The four-year colleges and universities in TSN are highly selective institutions committed to opening doors for talented community college students. As partners, they connect directly with nominated Scholars, provide clear guidance on admissions and financial aid, and help students understand what life is like on their campuses. Their role is to make the transfer process more transparent, supportive, and accessible — so Scholars can confidently explore, apply, and thrive at schools where they can reach their full potential.
Amherst College
Private liberal arts college, Amherst, MassachusettsBates College
Private liberal arts college, Lewiston, MaineBowdoin College
Private liberal arts college, Brunswick, MaineBrown University
Private research university, Providence, Rhode IslandCornell University
Private research university, Ithaca, New YorkJohns Hopkins University
Private research university, Baltimore, MarylandMassachusetts Institute of Technology
Private research university, Cambridge, MassachusettsMount Holyoke College
Private women's college, South Hadley, MassachusettsPomona College
Private liberal arts college, Claremont, CaliforniaPrinceton University
Private research university, Princeton, New JerseyRice University
Private research university, Houston, TexasSmith College
Private women's college, Northampton, MassachusettsSwarthmore College
Private liberal arts college, Swarthmore, PennsylvaniaWellesley College
Private women's college, Wellesley, MassachusettsWilliams College
Private liberal arts college, Williamstown, MassachusettsYale University
Private research university, New Haven, ConnecticutCommunity Colleges
Community colleges are where the TSN journey begins. Partner campuses identify and nominate high-achieving, transfer-ready students to join the network, recognizing their academic talent and leadership. Their role is to spark aspiration, encourage students to dream bigger, and connect them with the four-year opportunities TSN makes possible.
Alamo Colleges District
San Antonio, TexasBorough of Manhattan Community College
New York, New YorkBroward College
Fort Lauderdale, FloridaCity Colleges of Chicago
Chicago, IllinoisCommunity College of Baltimore County
Baltimore, MarylandDiablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CaliforniaGlendale Community College
Glendale, CAHolyoke Community College
Holyoke, MassachusettsKingsborough Community College
New York, New YorkLaGuardia Community College
Queens, New YorkMadison College
Madison, WIMassachusetts Bay Community College
Wellesley Hills, MassachusettsMiami Dade College
Miami, FloridaMiddlesex Community College
Bedford, MAMoorpark College
Moorpark, CaliforniaNorthern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VirginiaQueensborough Community College
Bayside, New YorkRichard Bland College
Petersburg, VirginiaSan Jacinto College
Pasadena / Houston, TexasUCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, & Scotch Plains, NJPartners & Funders
Managing Organizations
American Talent Initiative
The American Talent Initiative (ATI) is a Bloomberg Philanthropies-supported collaboration between the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, Ithaka S+R, and more than 125 top colleges and universities nationwide committed to enrolling, supporting, and graduating more than 50,000 talented students from lower-income backgrounds by 2025. To realize this milestone, ATI facilitates research, practice-sharing, and communications campaigns around presidential leadership, access and affordability, community college transfer, student veteran engagement, and student success and equity in the academic experience. With this support, members can make measurable progress toward aspirational lower-income student enrollment goals and minimize equity-based graduation gaps by 2025.
Aspen Institute College Excellence Program
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes—with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of each individual and society as a whole. For more information, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X.
Supporting Partners
Jack Cooke Kent Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation partnered with the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program to help launch the Transfer Scholars Network and remains committed to supporting its success. The Transfer Scholars Network reflects the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need through initiatives like the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded over $220 million in scholarships to over 2,800 students from 8th grade through graduate school, funded comprehensive educational advising and other support services, and also provided $115 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for the newsletter, or follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.