In its third year, New York scholars reported significant gains in college confidence, financial aid readiness, and math performance.
Free five-week Summer Academy at Mercy University offers 180 hours of college-level preparation; applications to become a Thrive Scholar are open now.
NEW YORK, NY – October 21, 2026 – Thrive Scholars and Mercy University today announced results from the third year of their partnership to host the flagship Summer Academy program in New York. Scholars who completed Summer Academy at Mercy University this past summer reported meaningful increases in confidence about going away to college and preparedness to navigate financial aid and demonstrated measurable gains in math performance.
Summer Academy is a rigorous five-week program offering over 180 hours of college-level preparation in calculus, coding, and writing, alongside essential college admissions counseling and career development.
Surveys and course assessments revealed the following improvements among participants in the 2026 summer cohort:
- Confidence about going away to college: The share of scholars who reported feeling confident rose from 67% in 2025 to 73% in 2026, a 9% increase.
- Financial aid preparedness: The share of scholars who reported feeling prepared to navigate financial aid rose from 49% in 2025 to 83% in 2026, a 34 percentage point increase.
- Math performance: New York City scholars demonstrated a 21-point increase in math performance over the course of the summer, based on pre- and post-assessments administered in their math courses.
“Thrive Scholars in New York is proud to partner with Mercy University for a third consecutive year to deliver this transformative experience for our scholars. The outcomes we are seeing, from increased confidence about going away to college to dramatic gains in financial aid literacy and academic performance, are a testament to what is possible when institutions come together in genuine service of students. These young people are extraordinary, and they deserve every opportunity to thrive,” said Christiamilda Correa, CFRE, Executive Director of Thrive Scholars New York.
“Mercy University is honored to host the Summer Academy for a third year and to see firsthand the impact this program has on these students,” said Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., president of Mercy University. “This partnership reflects our institutional mission to expand access and ensure that talented students from all backgrounds have the academic preparation, confidence and skills they need to succeed in college and beyond.”
109 scholars from the high school class of 2027 attended Summer Academy at Mercy University in summer 2026. The average family income of this cohort is $48,000 and 84% are first-generation college students.
“Summer Academy at Mercy University gave me an early glimpse into college life and helped me prepare for the transition ahead. Sitting in lectures, leading class discussions, and attending office hours, I began to understand what it means to be a college student, and realized it was something I could see myself doing,” said Rachel Kone, a Thrive Scholar, Summer Academy 1 participant, and New York high school senior.
This year, Summer Academy was also offered at commuter sites in Los Angeles and Chicago, with residential Scholars attending at Washington University in St. Louis and second-year Scholars at the University of Miami.
Thrive’s intensive Summer Academy program prepares Scholars for the rigors of college through college-level Math and English instruction, with three hours of each subject per day, while providing opportunities to explore industries and career pathways. Summer Academy I is a five-week academic experience, while Summer Academy II builds on that foundation through a multi-week program focused on career development, the transition to college, and engagement with corporate partners.
Summer Academy – New York is free for qualifying students. The application season for next year’s cohort is open now. Interested students can visit the Thrive Scholars website to learn more and apply today.
About Thrive Scholars
Thrive Scholars is a national nonprofit that empowers high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds by providing the skills, guidance, and professional networks they need to excel in top colleges and launch careers that lead to economic mobility. Through a comprehensive six-year model spanning academic preparation, college success programming, career readiness, and mentorship, Thrive Scholars has helped 3,490 scholars unlock their potential and emerge as leaders in their professions and communities. Formerly known as South Central Scholars and SCS Noonan Scholars, Thrive Scholars has operated for 25 years and today serves students across hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, Southeast Michigan, Jacksonville, and a growing community of supporters in North Carolina creating lasting economic mobility for students and future generations nationwide.
About Mercy University
Mercy University is an independent, coeducational institution serving more than 9,000 students each year across campuses in Westchester, the Bronx, Manhattan, as well as online. It is a federally designated minority-serving institution and the largest private Hispanic Serving Institution in the state of New York. Mercy offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificate programs within six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Mercy was founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy whose mission of transformative education remains strong. For more information, visit www.mercy.edu.