College Access Now (CAN) is dedicated to making college admission possible for talented, motivated and economically disadvantaged students who are in the first generation of their families to attend college. CAN has been operating at high schools in the Seattle area since 2005.  CAN works to increase the number and diversity of college-educated workers and leaders in our community.

CAN actively recruits economically disadvantaged, college-qualified youth—many of whom do not seek help on their own—and provides them with a proven-effective combination of college access curriculum and intensive individual support. CAN also works to increase the school-wide college-going culture of the schools it serves. CAN current serves students at three Seattle high schools: Garfield, Franklin and West Seattle.

CAN Kicks off Seventh Year

This fall, CAN begins our seventh year helping low-income, first-generation students to access college.  CAN will add a new cohort of seniors this year, expanding our services to reach a total of approximately 150 seniors at three high schools.

 CAN is also expanding services to increase outreach and support to our students in college.  We welcome two AmeriCorps VISTA members to further develop and pilot our college persistence program that will help students stay in college through degree attainment.   

CAN Volunteer Bernie Matsuno featured on King 5's Making a Difference.

Celebrate 7 Years of CAN

Hear CAN's staff, students and supporters tell CAN's story in their own words.