For Immediate Release: September 1, 2021
Contact: Michael Earls: [email protected]
TheDream.US Releases 2021 Impact Report: “Driven, Resilient, and Moving Our Country Forward”
Washington, DC – TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college and career success program for immigrant youth, today released its 2021 Impact Report – “Driven, Resilient, and Moving our Country Forward.” The report is filled with data that show the impact of TheDream.US over its first seven years of existence and stories of Scholars and Graduates who are living proof of why all students – regardless of where they are born – should have equitable access to a college education and meaningful careers.
According to Hyein Lee, TheDream.US Director of Measurement & Evaluation, “This Labor Day, as many industries face a shortage of qualified workers, we celebrate the success of our amazing TheDream.US Scholars and Graduates and their contributions as healthcare workers, educators, and engineers on the frontlines. Working together, we can ensure that immigrant youth and their families have the opportunity to help move our country forward.” 
Among the key statistics and points of emphasis in the new TheDream.US Impact Report:
Meet TheDream.US Scholars
- 6,500 Scholars, 100% from low income families, 83% first in family to attend college
- Average age of arrival to the United States is 4 years old and from 90+ countries of origin
- 79% DACA status, 3% TPS, and 18% are undocumented, with neither DACA nor TPS
TheDream.US Scholars’ Academic Outcomes Exceed National Benchmarks
- TheDream.US National Scholars attending four-year Partner Colleges: 94% first year persistence rate; 86% overall persistence rate; 79% graduation rate over six years.
- TheDream.US Opportunity Scholars attending four-year Partner Colleges: 98% first year persistence rate; 96% overall persistence rate; 93% graduation rate over six years.
- National Student Clearinghouse Benchmarks: 90% first year persistence rate; 82% overall persistence rate; 71% graduation rate over six years.
TheDream.US Graduates Are Helping to Move Our Country Forward
With legislation to create a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers, TPS holders, farm workers and other “essential” immigrant workers moving forward in Congress, the new impact report reminds us why expanding opportunities for immigrant youth benefits all of us:
- 85% of Graduates are working, including 76% who are employed in industries considered essential/front line.
Our graduates include Scholars such as Homar, a graduate of Delaware State University who is now a middle school teacher. He notes: “When I received TheDream.US scholarship years ago, I knew this was my opportunity to launch my dreams into reality. I’m now a middle school teacher … Although I know my legal status is in limbo here and I could even lose my job in this country, one thing that will never be taken away is my education and my dreams. America is stronger when DREAMers have opportunities to succeed — in colleges and in classrooms and other workplaces around the country.”
Cesia, a graduate of Florida International University who now works for Microsoft. She notes: “I came from Honduras when I was 3. Early in my college journey at Florida International University, I found my passion for computer science. I am now working at Microsoft as a program manager leading a team of engineers working on the Microsoft Teams product. I have dreamed all my life of making a difference. Leading a team that is creating innovative communication tools gives me the opportunity to give back—to show that I can help change the world.”
For more examples of TheDream.US graduates’ career successes, check out the new “We are the American Dream” graduate career story profiles here.
- Read TheDream.US 2021 Impact Report – “Driven, Resilient, and Moving our Country Forward”
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for immigrant youth, having provided more than 7,500 college scholarships to DREAMers attending over 75 partner colleges in 19 states and Washington, DC. We believe that all young Americans, regardless of where they were born, should have the opportunity to get a college education and pursue a meaningful career that contributes to our country’s future.
Watch our recent video featuring highlights from TheDream.US virtual commencement celebrating the graduation of more than 1,000 TheDream.US Scholars. The video features remarks from TheDream.US graduate and alumni speakers as well as those of Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, who was the guest speaker during the virtual commencement and told the graduates, “We know you have so much to contribute to this nation in the days ahead … We stand with you. Never stop dreaming.”
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