Modern States – Education Alliance
Project Title
For project support to expand the Freshman Year for Free program
Date
Dec. 11, 2025
Duration
36 months
Description
The Modern States Education Alliance (Modern States), founded in 2017 by Steve Klinsky, aims to make a college degree affordable and accessible. In collaboration with college professors, Modern States offers a free online library of courses to prepare students for CLEP exams. These courses are available 24/7 and feature video lectures, online textbooks, practice questions, and a practice exam. With CLEP exams accepted by nearly 3,000 colleges, students can earn free college credits, reducing tuition costs and time to degree completion.Since its inception, Modern States has registered over 730,000 learners across all fifty states, who have attempted more than 185,000 CLEP exams and passed over 110,000 exams.The resulting college credits earned represent savings for learners that exceed $220 million, and a return benefit of $7 for every dollar invested. Continued support will help expand the “Freshman Year for Free” program through partnerships with States and school operators where there is significant demand and launch a pilot for veterans and military-connected learners.
Website
Project Title
For project support and replication of the Freshman Year for Free program providing wraparound services and supports to under-resourced high schools to improve college enrollment and completion
Date
Sep. 14, 2023
Duration
24 months
Description
During the pandemic, college enrollment sharply declined, disproportionately affecting under-resourced school graduates. Beginning in 2020, the Modern States Education Alliance responded by creating a new, model New York City-focused program providing wraparound services directly within City high schools, built upon its well-known Freshman Year for Free effort’s unparalleled online, digital public library of great courses. The program supports learners in passing College Board-sponsored exams, earning them free course credits at nearly 3,000 colleges and universities throughout the nation. It successfully served over 600 students from twenty-three participating high schools in its first year, with a test-passing rate of over 80 percentexceeding the national rate.To date, over 2,500 students have signed up and completed over 1,500 college-level courses. With continued Corporation support, Modern States hopes to reach out to more high schools as they work towards 100 percentparticipation in NYC as well as expand the program to other cities.
Website
Project Title
For continued support of the enhanced Freshman Year for Free program, designed to keep college-bound high school seniors on a college track
Date
Sep. 15, 2022
Duration
12 months
Description
Modern States Education Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to making college more affordable and accessible, is undertaking an educational initiative in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The enhanced Freshman Year for Free program enables New York City students supported by several existing Education Program grantees to take online freshman-level courses taught by renowned college professors from Ivy League and selective colleges. The freshman-level courses can lead to college credit at more than 2,900 colleges and universities, including CUNY and SUNY, and enable students and their families to save up to 25 percent of tuition for a four-year college degree. Teachers at each partner school/grantee site will serve as paid tutors and mentors to offer additional support. All aspects of the program will be free for students, including free online textbooks, quiz questions, and a free practice CLEP exam provided by the College Board. Continued support from the Corporation will allow Modern States Education Alliance to innovate on its original model and increase its capacity to reach more students.
Website
Project Title
For continued support of the enhanced Freshman Year for Free program, designed to keep high school seniors on a college track in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Date
Sep. 02, 2021
Duration
12 months
Description
Modern States Education Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to making college more affordable and accessible, is undertaking an educational initiative in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The enhanced Freshman Year for Free program enables New York City students supported by several existing Education Program grantees to take online freshman-level courses taught by renowned college professors from Ivy League and selective colleges. The freshman-level courses can lead to college credit at more than 2,900 colleges and universities, including CUNY and SUNY, and enable students and their families to save up to 25 percent of tuition for a four-year college degree. To offer additional support, teachers at each partner school/grantee site will serve as paid tutors and mentors, checking in with every student on a weekly basis, available to answer questions during “office hours,” similar to those held by Teaching Assistants’ on a traditional college campus. All aspects of the program will be free for students, including free online textbooks, quiz questions, and a free practice CLEP exam provided by the College Board.
Website
Project Title
For support of the enhanced Freshman Year for Free program, designed to keep college-bound high school seniors, particularly from low-income neighborhoods in New York City, on a college track in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Date
Sep. 10, 2020
Duration
4 months
Description
Modern States Education Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to making college more affordable and accessible, is undertaking an educational initiative in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The enhanced Freshman Year for Free program enables New York City students supported by several existing Education Program grantees to take online freshman-level courses taught by renowned college professors from Ivy League and selective colleges. The freshman-level courses can lead to college credit at more than 2,900 colleges and universities, including CUNY and SUNY, and enable students and their families to save up to 25 percent of tuition for a four-year college degree. The pass rate for students taking Modern States courses is 76 percent, well above the national average. To offer additional support, teachers at each partner school/grantee site will serve as paid tutors and mentors. All aspects of the program will be free for students, including free online textbooks, quiz questions, and a free practice CLEP exam provided by the College Board.
Website
Project Title
For continued support of the enhanced Freshman Year for Free program, designed to keep college-bound high school seniors, particularly from low-income neighborhoods in New York City, on a college track in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Date
Sep. 10, 2020
Duration
12 months
Description
Modern States Education Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to making college more affordable and accessible, is undertaking an educational initiative in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The enhanced Freshman Year for Free program enables New York City students supported by several existing Education Program grantees to take online freshman-level courses taught by renowned college professors from Ivy League and selective colleges. The freshman-level courses can lead to college credit at more than 2,900 colleges and universities, including CUNY and SUNY, and enable students and their families to save up to 25 percent of tuition for a four-year college degree. To offer additional support, teachers at each partner school/grantee site will serve as paid tutors and mentors, checking in with every student on a weekly basis, available to answer questions during “office hours,” similar to those held by Teaching Assistants’ on a traditional college campus. All aspects of the program will be free for students, including free online textbooks, quiz questions, and a free practice CLEP exam provided by the College Board.