Expanding Access, Building Communities
College Unbound is redefining higher education by meeting students where they are—both geographically and personally. Through strategic geographic sites spanning the country, College Unbound brings its innovative, student-driven model to adult learners who need it most.
College Unbound is currently based in Providence, Rhode Island, with additional student cohorts in Chicago, IL; Camden, NJ; Greenville, SC; Philadelphia, PA; Wilmington, DE; and Seattle-Tacoma, WA. Our goal is to continue growing strategically throughout the country.
ONE CU No matter where your feet are located, we are committed to your experience. College Unbound’s core values, mission, and vision remain the same. Each location reflects CU’s commitment to transforming lives through accessible, community-based education.
Select a Location
College Unbound Rhode Island
Based in Providence, CU Rhode Island is the flagship location supporting students with degree completion since 2009. We launched in Rhode Island in 2009 to support the 138,000 adults with some college but no degree.
Why Rhode Island?
We are proud of the progress Rhode Island has made in educational attainment, with more than 55% of working-age Rhode Islanders holding a credential or degree. Yet we are still short of our goal of 70%, the percentage of jobs in Rhode Island that require postsecondary education.
We believe everyone in Rhode Island has a right to postsecondary education, especially those who have had the least access to completion:
- 34% of Black adults and 23% of Hispanic adults in Rhode Island have a degree.
- 32% of veterans in Rhode Island have obtained their degree.
- Only 18% of student parents obtain their degree within 6 years of starting.
- Only 4% of incarcerated adults have a college degree.
Enrollment Partnerships in Rhode Island
College Unbound (CU) partners with organizations to offer flexible, work-integrated degree programs that support employee development, leadership growth, and career progression. These programs enable adult learners to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Change while maintaining their job commitments, benefiting their personal growth and the organization’s success.
College Unbound Delaware Valley
CU’s launch in Philadelphia, Camden and New Jersey addresses the region’s urgent educational and economic needs by offering a degree to adult learners who started but never completed college.
Why Delaware Valley
Philadelphia is home to over 30 colleges and universities, while the broader Delaware Valley hosts an additional 50 higher education institutions, collectively serving almost 300,000 students. Despite this rich educational landscape, systemic barriers persist:
- 1 in 4 Philadelphians live in poverty.*
- 1 in 6 adults (25+) started college but did not finish.*
- Only 6% of residents earning less than $50,000 annually have attained a bachelor’s degree.**
*The Hope Center’s 2021 Report on Barriers to College Completion in Philadelphia
**Pew Charitable Trusts
The urgent need for College Unbound was made clear in a 2021 Hope Center report:
“Philadelphia remains the poorest of the country’s ten largest cities and continues to trail Boston, New York City, and other U.S. cities in percentage of residents with college degrees.”
A lack of postsecondary education is directly linked to lower earnings, poorer health outcomes, and reduced employment opportunities. CU Delaware Valley addresses this crisis with a proven model that re-engages adult learners and helps them overcome barriers to degree completion.
Enrollment Partnerships in the Delaware Valley
At College Unbound (CU), we support organizations in fostering growth among their staff, stakeholders, and members through adaptable, workplace-friendly degree programs. Our collaborations allow working professionals to pursue a Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership and Change, enhancing their skills, leadership abilities, and career prospects, without interrupting their employment. This approach benefits both employees and the organizations to which they contribute.
College Unbound Washington State
Cohorts meet online to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership and Change. These cohorts, formed through living in the same region or being part of the same workplace, meet online through the NC-SARA regulations guiding online instruction. CU Washington supports adult learners through a student-driven approach that blends online learning with the strength of community-based cohorts.
Why Washington?
Washington State has 1,164,420 residents who started college but never earned a degree. At the same time, nearly 70% of jobs require some college education, yet only 58% of the population meets this benchmark.
- $21,387: The difference in average income between Washington residents with and without a bachelor’s degree.
- $63,477 vs. $48,819: Average salaries for workers with a BA compared to those without.
- 23.8%: The percentage of Washingtonians over age 25 who hold a bachelor’s degree.
By expanding to Washington, College Unbound supports the state’s workforce development goal of raising the percentage of degree-holding residents.
Enrollment Partnerships in Washington
At College Unbound (CU), we collaborate with employers to provide adaptable degree programs that seamlessly integrate into the workplace, helping employees build skills, enhance leadership qualities, and advance their careers. Our partnership models allow working adults to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Change without interfering with their job responsibilities, creating a win-win for both individuals and their organizations.
College Unbound Greenville, South Carolina
In the heart of the Upstate region, Greenville, SC, is home to a CU site launched in 2024. Known for its booming economy, growing healthcare sector, and strong sense of community, Greenville is an ideal setting for CU’s mission to transform lives through accessible education.
College Unbound supports cohorts of students towards a BA degree in Organizational Leadership and Change.
These cohorts, formed through living in the same city or being part of the same workplace, meet online weekly under the NC-SARA regulations that guide online instruction.
Why Greenville?
- South Carolina has a growing need for degree-completion programs, with thousands of adult learners who started college but never finished.
- Greenville’s workforce is expanding rapidly, particularly in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and business industries, where CU students are already making a difference.
CU Greenville students will bring their life experiences to the classroom, designing projects that directly address their workplace and community challenges while creating bright futures for themselves.
Enrollment Partnerships in Greenville
College Unbound (CU) collaborates with employers, organizations, and memberships to deliver flexible, work-based degree programs designed to develop skills, leadership capabilities, and career growth. Our approach allows working professionals to earn a Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership and Change without disrupting their employment, providing valuable benefits to employees and the organizations they serve
Prison Education Program
College Unbound’s Prison Education Program, founded in 2015, offers learners who are incarcerated the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Change, ensuring access to high-quality education regardless of incarceration status.
The major and content are the same–the only difference is the use of analog print materials while incarcerated. Students complete coursework identical in rigor and learning objectives to all CU programs, emphasizing community-building, lived experiences, and student exhibitions.
Students who are released before they obtain their Bachelor’s Degree are supported through transition. Upon re-entry, students receive technology support, including laptops, to continue their degree seamlessly.