Mile High 360

Increase Accessibility to Higher Education for First-Generation College Students

this Colorado Gives Day on December 9th!

Mile High 360 engages first-generation Hispanic students, most of whom attend Denver’s Title I schools—students who often have limited exposure to college pathways. Unlike their peers in private or more resourced schools, where campus tours, mentorship, and college counseling are built into their culture, our students rely on programs like Mile High 360 to close the knowledge and opportunity gap.

One of the most powerful ways we do this is through essential college trips that build confidence, foster social capital, and allow students to envision themselves on campuses they may never have imagined. Research shows that this exposure matters: campus visits significantly increase students’ college knowledge, sense of efficacy, and conversations with school personnel about higher education, and interactions with faculty, staff, and current students strengthen the “decided behaviors” that support college-going (Swanson et. al, 2021).

That’s why Mile High 360’s Pre-Collegiate Trip to Adams State University and Spring and Fall Trips are so critical. Students build academic and personal skills, connect with mentors, gain real-world experience, and develop the college knowledge and language they need to succeed. During their visit to Adams State University, students will live in dorms and engage in college-level routines, allowing them to “try on” the pressures, expectations, and rhythms of college life ahead of time—reducing the unknowns that often hold first-generation students back and helping them step confidently toward higher education.

Our 10th and 11th graders visiting CSU during the Spring College Trip.         Anna and Ari, MH350's High School Health & Wellness Coordinator. Anna is in her freshman year at CU Boulder.

Why Higher Education & College Visits Matter

Higher education goes well beyond just a diploma. Adults with postsecondary education report better health, higher well-being, better job fit, and greater civic engagement (Lumina Foundation, 2023).  For example, one study found that individuals with a bachelor’s degree are significantly more likely to report excellent or perfect health compared to those with no higher education (Lumina Foundation, 2023). Another shows that higher education attainment is associated with longer life expectancy and fewer health risks (Health Data, 2025). Moreover, while earnings vary, broadly speaking, those with higher educational attainment have better employment options, higher incomes, more economic security, and greater social mobility. 

By enabling students to access college-preparatory experiences, we are investing in their lives—not just their academic futures. So, college visits matter because:

• College trips expand what our students believe is possible: First-generation Hispanic high school students, particularly those in Title I schools, disproportionately face information and exposure gaps around college access and preparedness.
• College trips help build social capital and belonging: Taking students on a college trip helps close those gaps by making the campus experience real, letting them see themselves there, meet mentors and peers, and begin to navigate college-life realities ahead of time.
• Mile High 360’s Pre-Collegiate Program and Spring & Fall College trips are designed for this exact purpose: to empower high school students, especially first-generation and underserved youth, to step confidently toward higher education.
• Higher education is linked to long-term improvements in individuals' and future generations' quality of life: better physical and mental health, greater economic stability, longer life expectancy, and increased civic engagement and life satisfaction.

Eric & his family. Eric graduated with a degree in Communications!   Fransee & Her Sorority Sisters. Fransee graduated with a dual degree in Early Childhood Education & Human Development and Family Studies!

What Your Gift Supports:

Our goal is to raise $12,000: $8,000 for the pre-collegiate trip and $4,000 for the spring college trip. The funds raised will cover transportation, lodging, meals, and outdoor activities during these trips. Your investment will directly support:

• 15 rising seniors completing our first-ever Pre-Collegiate residential trip
• 10th- and 11th-grade students visiting campuses across Colorado
• Increases in college knowledge, confidence, and sense of belonging
• Clearer post-secondary goals and stronger college applications
• More first-generation students enrolling and persisting in higher education

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