How Noble Schools Helps Students Get to College and Beyond

A collage of three images that show Noble alumni in their college graduation robes on campus.

Published On: April 6th, 2026Categories: 2026, College at Noble, Equity at Noble, Noble Educators Speak, Noble Updates, Staff Articles

BY JY Sun, they/them, Sr. Director of College Analytics & Insights

Every family wondering whether college is still “worth it” is asking a deeply human question: Will this path give my child a real shot at a stable, fulfilling life?

As the child of immigrants who moved to this country so that I could have the opportunity to attend some of the best universities in the world, I can personally attest to the value of college. But how else do we know that college is still worth it?

Higher education attainment is still strongly linked to job stability, higher wages, and career mobility. In Illinois, many of the fastest-growing jobs that pay family-sustaining wages and have benefits increasingly require postsecondary credentials or degrees. College is also the place where students hone and develop the skills that employers value and will pay the most for. College is both about earning more and having more options. A college degree increases the likelihood that young people can pursue work that aligns with their values, supports their families, and allows them to move beyond survival mode.

As Noble’s senior director of college analytics & insights, and the leader of the Alumni Supports team, I see every day the impact Noble has on ensuring our students have the best shot at landing strong careers. Our strategic programming, from campus visits to robust alumni support, give our students the opportunity to lead stable and fulfilling lives after graduation. Relative to similar CPS schools, Noble students:

Graduate high school at a rate 13 percentage points higher.
Enroll immediately in college at a rate 23 percentage points higher.
Are twice as likely to earn a college degree or credential.

Even more striking: Noble graduates earn bachelor’s degrees at double the rate of Americans from similar backgrounds, according to national data from the Pell Institute.

So, how does this happen at Noble?

Noble Students Get the Exposure They Deserve

Three students stand in front of a sign for Lawrence Technical University.

Two students pose in front of a backdrop that says Michigan State University, College of Education.

A Noble student stands with an adult professional in what looks like a court room.

A Noble student in a college classroom sits at a giant tablet, using a pen to draw on it.

A Noble student stands on the Yale University common area, wearing a t-shirt that says "Yale, Young Global Scholar"

Noble students at different college campuses for Summer of a Lifetime, Noble’s program where rising juniors live and take classes on campus.

For many students, college feels distant, abstract, or “not for people like me.” At Noble, we work intentionally to change that perception. Research consistently shows that early exposure to college environments increases students’ likelihood of enrolling in college. That’s why we create consistent, early, and meaningful opportunities for students to see college – to step onto campuses, imagine themselves in classrooms, and understand that higher education is not reserved for a select few. At Noble, college conversations don’t live only in counseling offices; they show up in classrooms, advisories, assemblies, and family conversations. Our message to students is simple: there are many futures available to you, and we will help you understand them.

Programs like Summer of a Lifetime, where 1,000 rising juniors live on campus and take college courses during the summer, give students first-hand experience in academic environments that might otherwise feel unreachable. Nearly 60% of Noble students who do Summer of a Lifetime go on to earn bachelor’s degrees, putting them on a path to earning $1 million more over their lifetime than their peers without college degrees.

Noble’s annual Junior College Fair brings Noble’s nearly 3,000 juniors face-to-face with admission representatives from 100+ universities and colleges across the country. This past fall, Noble also hosted our 5th Annual HBCU College Fair for hundreds of students. Several Noble’s campuses, such as Butler College Prep and Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy, also have a tradition of taking dozens of students on HBCU tours across the country.

At Noble, we make college visible so students can begin making informed, empowered choices about their futures.

Noble Walks Alongside Our Alumni

At Noble, we know that access without support is not enough. Many students leave college not because they lack ability, but because systems are confusing, unforgiving, and difficult to navigate alone. We stay connected after high school because we know the hardest part often comes after enrollment. This is why so far this school year, our team of 24 alumni counselors and coaches have shown up— making more than 500 in-person trips to over 45 universities and colleges to meet alumni. This is where Noble stands apart. Our support looks like:

1:1 coaching sessions to develop skills needed to successfully leverage academic support services on campus.
- In Fall 2025, Noble alumni (Class of 2024) were earning stronger GPAs (+0.23) and more credits on average in their first semester than the 2023 graduating class. This signals stronger progress towards college graduation.
Hopping on phone calls to explain FAFSA renewals and ensure college remains affordable each year.
- So far this school year, Noble’s alumni counselors have helped over 1,100 Noble alumni, who are freshmen in college, renew their financial aid.
Awarding small scholarships to cover college expenses at the start of fall semester.
- In 2025 alone, more than $100,000 in “last dollar” gap scholarships were awarded to at least 300 Noble alumni to cover costs associated with college, like textbooks.
Partnering directly with universities and organizations to reduce cracks in the system and foster a stronger community of support amongst Noble alumni. Just this year:
- At the City Colleges of Chicago, we helped Noble alumni become scholars with One Million Degrees; an organization whose work is proven to increase the likelihood of earning a degree from community college.
- At Illinois State University, we coordinated to act on early warning academic progress flags for nearly 100 Noble alumni, resulting in higher first semester GPAs and more credits earned.
- At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we worked with the Multicultural Student Center to host an event for dozens of Noble alumni to renew their financial aid on-site and connect them to a community on campus.

Alumni Success Coach Alejandra Rosales (center) meeting with Noble alumni at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Alumni Counselors Jio Martinez, Keena Preston, and Kevin McLurkin in a coaching session with a Noble alum at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Alumni Counselor Marlene Rios (center) in a coaching session with a Noble alum at Illinois State University.

Alumni Success Coach Keena Preston (left) in a coaching session with a Noble alum at Illinois State University.

Noble’s Alumni Supports team stays connected long after high school because it reduces friction, removes barriers, and allows us to intervene early so students don’t have to navigate complex systems alone. Confidence grows when students trust that someone is walking alongside them — and that trust leads to better outcomes in their lives.

Noble Alumni Show Up to Inspire Our Students

Bulls College Prep alumni sit at a long table on the stage in the gym. Students are sitting in the audience and listening.

A panel of seven Chicago Bulls College Prep alumni speaking to current Bulls high school students about their post-Noble journey and experiences in college and beyond.

Hope grows when students see people like themselves succeeding.

One of Noble’s greatest strengths is our alumni community. More than 200 Noble alumni now work within our organization, returning as teachers, counselors, leaders, and even as our own CEO. Noble alumni not only serve as stuff in our schools but also regularly offer living proof that success is attainable. They come back to offer advice and wisdom on panels with current students, host critical internship opportunities, and even support students in their creative endeavors, with Noble alumni like Chelsea Billingsley returning to judge our annual Visual Arts Festival.

These “alumni mirrors” matter. When students hear and see real stories that show struggles, pivots, and persistence, college stops being a distant ideal and becomes a realistic path. They begin to identify themselves as worthy of any path, and clearer plans for stronger careers can begin to form.

Ultimately, at Noble we prioritize college, not because it guarantees success, but because it expands what’s possible for our alumni in their careers and lives. But regardless of whether a student decides to pursue college or not, Noble is committed to ensuring that there are no dead ends for Noble graduates.

Since graduating the first class in 2003, over 7,000 Noble alumni have gone on to earn a college degree or credential. In 2025, Noble alumni graduating from college were hired for full-time roles at organizations such as Accenture, JP Morgan Chase, Northwestern Medicine, Caterpillar, Chicago Bears, Chicago Public Schools, and Amazon (to name just a few). Not only that, but a recent internal study from the Burning Glass Institute estimates that Noble alumni earn an average salary of roughly $66,000, exceeding a similar national comparison group.

A bar chart with two bars. The one on the left says Noble Alumni and shows that they earn an average salary of $65.6K. The one on the right is slightly lower and says National Peers and shows their average salary as $61.4K.

Noble alumni on average earn $4.2K more than similar peers (Burning Glass Institute).

While that is promising, Noble’s work doesn’t stop there. I see Noble teachers, counselors, and leaders continue to work to ensure that the pathways to landing strong careers are visible, valuable, navigable, and real for each student. I see this commitment living deeply in the spirit of Noble. This is why, after nearly six years working at Noble, I still wake up every morning feeling excited to do this work— because I know we’re changing our students’ life trajectories. And that’s worth it.