For Americans, a college degree is worth a million bucks literally. In fact, college graduates will earn more than one million dollars more in their working lives than high school graduates.

The Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) helps Ohioans who haven't considered college begin dreaming of higher education. As the first statewide coordinating body for college access programs in the nation, in just five years OCAN has grown to 34 college access programs serving nearly half of Ohio's school districts. OCAN community-based, nonprofit programs range in size from the Medina City Schools Foundation College Access Program, which serves one high school and reaches 3,000 students and families in Medina, to Cleveland Scholarship Programs, which serves 50 high schools and more than 45,000 students and families in Greater Cleveland.

There are many ways OCAN local programs choose to help students achieve a college education, but most offer two basic services one-to-one financial aid advising and last-dollar grants. Services may include any one of the following:

Financial Aid CounselingSome students don't know how to apply for financial aid, and this keeps them from pursuing college. In response, OCAN provides financial aid counseling to students and their families.

Success: In the 2003-2004 academic year alone, OCAN programs raised an estimated $82,477,265 in financial aid for Ohio students.

"Last Dollar" Scholarships
After all financial aid resources have been tapped and students need more, this program steps up with "Last Dollar" Scholarships to fulfill college dreams.

Success: In the 2003-2004 academic year alone, OCAN programs awarded $6,344,405 to students in scholarship grants.

College Resource Centers
Located in public libraries, malls, religious centers, and downtown storefronts, College Resource Centers offer Ohioans a chance to learn about higher education opportunities.

Success: More than half of OCAN programs offer Resource Centers to their communities.

Parental Advising
Because a parent's support is often the deciding factor for students who are undecided about college, OCAN emphasizes helping parents understand the potential of higher education.

Early Awareness Activities
As college opportunities are introduced to elementary, middle, and high school students and their parents, students can begin imagining college dreams early.

Success: 59% of OCAN programs currently offer early awareness activities that help roughly 45,000 elementary and middle school students understand the benefits of graduating from high school and continuing on to higher education at an early age.

College Applications Advising
High school students are often overwhelmed by the college application process, which can lead to procrastination, or failure to apply at all. That's why trained OCAN advisors guide high school students through the maze of paperwork step by step. They also steer students toward the right college preparatory courses so they're ready for admission.

Success: 91% of students who received advisory services from OCAN's Cleveland Scholarship Programs enrolled in a four-year college program.

Mentors
Volunteers are trained to work one-on-one with students, serving as academic coaches, providing emotional and social support, encouraging productive academic efforts, and serving as role models.

Peer Tutors
Our student volunteers assist fellow students who require academic assistance. Community

Workshops
We offer workshops at various sites in the community to help families understand the need for college planning, college degree requirements, and financial aid options.

Success: OCAN's ACCESS Ashtabula's community outreach work increased the number of county high school seniors taking the ACT or SAT exams to 63%.

Adult Learning Advising
Our counselors help adult students realize that it's never too late to begin college, by providing financial aid options and college program information that matches their career interests.

Success: More than a fourth of our programs provide services to roughly 5,000 adult students who are ready to embark on the college journey.