Middlebury Joins with QuestBridge to Recruit Talented Students

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury College has joined a partnership with QuestBridge, a nonprofit that connects some of the nation’s most exceptional, low-income youth with leading colleges and universities, which provide the students with financial support.

​​“This is an important partnership for Middlebury, and for realizing our shared goals with QuestBridge around access and equity in education,” said Dean of Admissions Nicole Curvin. “We’re a private institution, but we’re also a public good. And a public good should be accessible to all. We look forward to our joint work ahead.”

“At Middlebury, we’re committed to a campus experience where all voices contribute to the conversations we have every day in our classrooms and labs, theaters, concert halls, and on our athletics fields,” said Middlebury President Laurie L. Patton. “An inclusive community is a more creative one. We come up with better ideas by incorporating a broad range of human experience and a rich variety of perspectives. We expand our capacity for learning, for leading, and for demonstrating empathy and understanding of others.”

Middlebury will begin accepting QuestBridge applications in fall 2022 for the class entering in fall 2023. The College will meet 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need for every admitted QuestBridge applicant as it does with other admitted students. QuestBridge partner colleges must demonstrate a commitment to supporting outstanding students from low-income backgrounds, both financially and otherwise, inside and outside of the classroom. Middlebury joins 45 other schools who also partner with QuestBridge.

Founded in 1994 and based in Palo Alto, California, QuestBridge works with students beginning when they are in high school, through college, and to the time they start their first job. The organization’s goal is to increase the percentage of talented low-income students attending competitive colleges and to support their efforts to achieve success in their careers and communities. The QuestBridge Scholars Network and Alumni Association now include more than 16,000 current college students and graduates worldwide.

“We are moved by Middlebury’s commitment to making their campuses accessible, affordable, and welcoming to students from diverse backgrounds, and believe this partnership will offer QuestBridge scholars unique academic opportunities and life experiences,” said Ana McCullough, QuestBridge CEO and cofounder. “We are excited for our QuestBridge Scholars to join the exceptional community at Middlebury.”

According to McCullough, the vast majority of high-achieving, low-income students do not apply to selective colleges or universities, often because they believe that they cannot afford the cost. QuestBridge provides students with information about the schools as well as how their organization helps students.

Read QuestBridge’s announcement on the partnership with Middlebury College.