About 5 Strong
How 5 Strong Works
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Candid Gold Seal
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Careful Matching
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Full Tuition Scholarship
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Support from "Matriculation to Graduation"
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Enroll Together
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5 Scholar Teams
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Graduate Together
5 Strong partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to provide promising student leaders with full-tuition scholarships and ongoing mentorship and support from matriculation to graduation.
The nationwide Black student college graduation rate of 42% lags significantly behind national averages, with 61% of Black students facing the crushing burden of student loan debt as a major barrier to completion. This disparity is particularly acute for the "academic middle" – African American students with solid grades but average test scores. These students, often overlooked for scholarships, are left to navigate the financial complexities of higher education alone.
5 Strong is committed to breaking this cycle. We recognize the untapped potential of the "academic middle" (often 1st generation college) and help provide the essential funding and support they need to enroll, persist, graduate, and ultimately thrive as productive citizens. Our mission is to prove that with the right resources, every student can achieve their academic dreams and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Our Story
For years, as a teacher and counselor, 5 Strong founder Andrew Ragland watched HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) nurture his former students, especially the ones without outstanding scores but plenty of potential. An HBCU graduate himself, Ragland and his team believe these institutions are uniquely positioned to give students who might be overlooked the support they need to shine.
In 2015, Ragland opened 5 Strong, and began linking students waiting to shine with HBCUs that he knew can best help them on their journey to become change makers and leaders. 5 Strong worked with HBCUs to arrange full-tuition scholarships so a lack of money wouldn’t stand in the way of young scholars’ dreams. And Ragland built an intensive college success program run by an experienced team ready to embrace their students like family. Today, this model has been proven: more and more HBCUs are signing on, and 84% of 5 Strong’s scholars are on track to graduate — more than twice the national average.
No comparable program can claim better results.
Our Mission
The 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation's mission is to boost retention and graduation rates at partner Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We achieve this by facilitating enrollment and fostering success for academically promising student leaders, providing support throughout their college journey until graduation.
Our focus is on empowering African American students in the "Academic Middle"—those with good grades but low to average test scores—who demonstrate motivation and leadership potential. We aim to equip these scholars to "Go, Stay,and Graduate" from college in 4 years or less with $0 to minimal student loan debt, ultimately becoming impactful contributors to their communities.
Our Sponsors
Alumni Partners
Business Partners
You may not have perfect grades or test scores. But if you have the vision to become a leader, in college and after, 5 Strong may be for you.
5 Strong offers a full-ride scholarship, extensive college success coaching, a close-knit community of peers, and experienced staff ready to support each scholar like family. We’re interested in scholars with dedication, integrity, and heart who want to graduate ready to make a difference in their communities.
You are an investment in our shared future.
ApplyInterested in partnering with us?
5 Strong is looking for HBCU partners interested in welcoming a cohort of talented young people with a proven support system behind them. We know our scholars well and we stand behind them. 5 Strong hand picks each student through a months-long, multi-step process. We make sure each student arrives on campus set up for success. From that point onward, 5 Strong bends over backward to ensure every student blossoms into a campus leader ready to take on the world. Our scholars are poised for success, and hungry to become leaders and contributors in their schools and in the world. We welcome a conversation.
Please Get In Touch