Urban College of Boston is a privatecommunity college in Boston, Massachusetts[1] offering Associate of Arts degrees and short-term, career-oriented certificate programs. Since the pandemic, students have opted to study primarily online. Learners can complete their degrees and certificates fully online. Select programs are offered in person. Urban College offers degrees in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, and General Studies.
Urban College of Boston has a rich history rooted in social justice and educational equity. Founded in 1967 as a program to help working adults, primarily women, earn college credits, Urban College was born out of the vision of Robert M. Coard, a longtime leader of Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD).
Coard, a key figure in the national community action movement and a champion for the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, believed that higher education was the key to socioeconomic mobility for marginalized communities. His vision officially came to life in 1993, when the institution achieved college status.
A private, nonprofit institution, Urban College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)[2] and offers a supportive, multilingual learning environment.
The college has a strong commitment to empowering a diverse community of learners through critical partnerships and individualized education. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), Urban College has served a racially and ethnically diverse student body.
Of the over 1,100 students enrolled at Urban College, 59% identified as Hispanic or Latinx, 14% as Black or African American, 10% as Asian, 6% as white, 3% as another race or ethnicity, and 8% did not indicate their race or ethnicity. During the same period, 92% of students were women and the average age was 37.[3]
Urban College continues to honor Robert Coard’s legacy by providing pathways to opportunity for individuals seeking to improve their lives through education.
Academics
Urban College of Boston was founded as a "non-traditional, multicultural college"[4] to enable students from literacy, GED, adult education, Head Start (parents and staff) and youth programs to enroll in a higher education program.
The college offers college courses, as well as degree and certificate programs in the fields of early childhood education, general studies, and human services administration.[5] It has arrangements helping graduates to attend further degree programs at local colleges.[5]
The college is the only[citation needed] educational institution in the City of Boston that offers full course-loads in other languages,[6] which attracts minoritized students seeking to advance their education while continuing English as a Second Language (ESL) studies.
As part of their efforts to reach more traditionally underserved students, Urban College added off-site location programs in suburbs such as Worcester, Lawrence, Fitchburg, and Boston neighborhoods such as Roxbury.[citation needed]
Mission
Urban College of Boston opens new pathways to opportunity through individualized, supportive, and multilingual education that prepares a diverse community of learners to pursue career advancement and transform their lives.
Urban College has a diverse student body. The average student age is 36. During the 2022-2023 academic year, students ranged in age from 15-75.[7]
Over 70% of students speak English as a second language. Urban College offers credit-bearing courses in English, Spanish, and Mandarin, as well as a robust English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) sequence and free tutoring.[8]
Costs and Funding
Most Urban College of Boston students graduate debt-free. Urban College has several funding options including:
federal financial aid,
federal grants,
state grants,
state scholarships,
free community college programs,
and payment plans.
Most financial support at Urban College is grant aid for those who qualify. This means it doesn't need to be paid back. Most grant eligibility is determined by information provided in the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).[9]
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