On January 26, 2021, Barnard College announced a new partnership with QuestBridge, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting high-achieving, low-income students with the country’s top-ranked colleges and universities, and supporting them to achieve success in their careers and communities.
“Barnard is proud to partner with QuestBridge to target and reach thousands of high-achieving, low-income students,” said Dean of Admissions Christina Lopez. “As we further our commitment to being a more diverse and inclusive institution, we look forward to working with QuestBridge to open up a Barnard education to those who may have considered it inaccessible before.”
This new partnership — which will work jointly with Barnard’s Office of Admissions; Office of Financial Aid; Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Office of Student Life; and Access Barnard — adds to Barnard’s efforts to ensure that the campus student body reflects the College’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“This new partnership with QuestBridge aligns well with Access Barnard, a key institutional initiative that aims to improve the academic and student experience for our first-generation, low-income population,” said Vice President for Enrollment and Communications Jennifer Fondiller ’88. “Joining QuestBridge is another step toward ensuring that we can identify, enroll, and support the most talented scholars from all backgrounds.”
The more than 40 colleges with whom QuestBridge partners, including Columbia University, are highly selective research universities and liberal arts colleges in the United States that offer their undergraduate students a top-tier educational experience. Barnard is proud to be counted among QuestBridge’s college partners in the shared mission of helping exceptional students in low-income communities gain access to the country’s top ranking colleges and universities. By partnering with QuestBridge, Barnard will be able to better identify and recruit high school students of all backgrounds from across the country, allowing the College to continue to alleviate the undue financial burden that college attendance can place on low-income families by providing full scholarships to those who qualify.
“We are thrilled that Barnard College is joining the QuestBridge partnership,” said Ana McCullough, co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge. “Barnard’s commitment to developing and cultivating thoughtful leaders who are prepared to navigate challenges in an interconnected world aligns with our vision that these leaders come from all socioeconomic backgrounds. We are excited for our QuestBridge Scholars to dive into the thriving communities at Barnard College and Columbia University.”