Unlocking economic mobility for first-generation students.
Unlocking economic mobility for first-generation students through mentorship, AI-era skills, and employer connections.
1,200+
Students Applied
~40%
Admitted
180+
Placements Pursued
3
Careers Launched
Our Mission
Education is the most powerful driver of human potential and economic mobility.
When one first-generation student breaks through, the gains compound across three levels:
Families
Income, stability and new expectations at home.
Future Generations
Siblings and children start from a higher baseline.
Communities
Role models, new businesses and local reinvestment.
A world where highly talented first-generation students have access to the resources they need to pursue their dreams and achieve economic success.
EconMobility was built for the student who has everything it takes — and just needs the door opened.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn't. Yet.
The students are ready. The careers exist. EconMobility builds the bridge between the two.
56%
of first-generation college students leave without a degree, compared to 17% of students with college-educated parents.
3x
less likely to land a job in their field within a year of graduation, even with equivalent grades and credentials.
No Network
Professional networks are inherited. First-generation students start with none — and the job market rewards who you know.
No Roadmap
Navigating internships, graduate school, and career pivots requires guidance most first-gen students never receive.
Financial Pressure
Many must choose between unpaid opportunities that build careers and paid work that keeps the lights on.
The AI era raises the stakes.
As automation reshapes every industry, the students who lack access to mentorship, upskilling, and professional networks face an even steeper climb. EconMobility prepares students for the careers of tomorrow — not just today.
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics (2023); Pew Research Center First-Generation College Graduate Study (2022).
Four pillars. One mission.
Every element of our program is designed to remove a specific barrier standing between first-generation students and career success.
Mentorship & Coaching
1:1 matching with professionals in your field, plus group coaching on career navigation, networking, and professional identity.
AI-Era Skills
Curated learning paths in AI literacy, communication, and domain expertise — built around what employers actually hire for.
Financial Support
Stipends for unpaid internships, emergency funds, and connections to scholarships so financial pressure never derails progress.
Employer Connections
Direct introductions to 180+ hiring partners, curated job boards, and warm referrals from mentors inside target companies.
Two focused pathways.
We go deep where first-gen talent creates the most value, rather than wide across every field.
STEM & Science
- Admission to strong STEM programs
- Research placements and lab experience
- PhD, R&D and deep-tech careers
Outcome
Outcome: careers in research, science and technology
Business & Entrepreneurship
- Admission to top business programs and business schools
- Venture building, mentors and accelerators
- Access to credit and startup capital
Outcome
Outcome: businesses that create jobs and wealth
From application to career in four steps.
Apply
Students submit a short application sharing their background, goals, and the pathway they want to pursue.
Selected
Top talent is identified through a holistic review — assessing potential, drive, and fit across STEM, business, and entrepreneurship.
Supported
Selected students receive mentorship, skills training, and financial support as they pursue graduate school, placements, or venture building.
Career Launched
Students step into careers in research, technology, business, or entrepreneurship — and join a growing alumni network that pays it forward.
Students come first.
Every service EconMobility provides — mentorship, AI-era skills training, financial support, and employer connections — is designed to put zero financial burden on students.
Our employer and philanthropic partners fund the program so talent is never the barrier.
Get involved.
Mentor a Student
Commit two hours a month to a first-generation student navigating the same path you once walked. The impact compounds for years.
Become a MentorHire Our Graduates
Access a curated pipeline of first-generation talent across STEM and business — pre-vetted, mentorship-ready, and motivated.
Partner With UsFund the Mission
Your investment removes financial barriers for students who have everything it takes. Every dollar goes directly to program delivery.
Support EconMobilityReady to connect?
Whether you're a student ready to apply, an employer building a pipeline, or a funder who believes in this mission — we want to hear from you.
hello@econmobility.org