Bottom Line

Bottom Line partners with degree-aspiring students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds by equipping them with essential resources to succeed in college and beyond. Founded in 1997, Bottom Line was built on the belief that students need both a mentor and a guide to navigate the college application process and persist through college. By providing consistent one-on-one support, Bottom Line Advisors help high school students identify affordable, best-fit colleges during the Access Program. For those attending one of Bottom Line’s 53 Target Colleges, College Success Advisors continue working with them for up to six years until they launch their careers. As the first in their families to earn bachelor’s degrees, Bottom Line students typically secure first jobs with salaries that are more than double their family’s previous income.

GreenLight brought Bottom Line to Detroit to bridge the significant gap between the need for college access programs and the resources available to support them. With high caseloads, school counselors face challenges in providing adequate college counseling services. Additionally, the financial burden of higher education remains a substantial barrier for many Detroit students, limiting pathways to economic mobility.

Starting in summer 2025, Bottom Line will support 180 students locally as they navigate the college application process to access college by spring 2026. Advisors will work closely with students to help them generate lists of schools, complete the FAFSA, and make affordable choices that minimize debt. On average, Bottom Line students graduate with less than $19,000 in college debt, positioning them for financial stability post-graduation.

They currently reach over 7,000 students through two primary programs – College Access and College Success in Boston, New York City, Chicago, and Ohio. Ultimately, they look to create a far-reaching ripple effect, launched by the transformative power of a college degree and a mobilizing first career, that will uplift individuals, families, and entire communities.