Posse started because of one student who said, “I never would have dropped out of college if I had my posse with me.” That simple idea of sending a group of students to college together to act as a support system for one another was the impetus for a program that today has become one of the most comprehensive college access programs in the United States. Four years after setting foot on Vanderbilt
’s campus, all five members of Vanderbilt Posse 1 graduated with honors and accolades. Since then, Posse has sent 3,638 Scholars to top-tier colleges and universities throughout the country. Nationally, Posse Scholars have won $402 million in scholarships from Posse’s partner institutions and are persisting and graduating at a rate of 90 percent—significantly above the national average.
