PROVIDENCE — Nick Figueroa remembers when school officials conveyed to him and other students of color some version of the message that “college is not for everyone.”
But he refused to be discouraged or limited by those low expectations. “I’ve always taken those type of comments as fuel,” he said. “I’ll prove you wrong.”
Figueroa went on to graduate from the University of Rhode Island with a master’s degree in education, and now he is director of a new program at Brown University that is helping to prepare Providence public school students for college.
On the Rhode Island Report podcast, Figueroa talked about the Brown Collegiate Scholars Program, a free four-year program that provides Providence Public School District students with the knowledge and skills to support their college aspirations. Figueroa also recently appeared along with Lamont Gordon, executive director of College Visions, on a “Generation Rising” episode on Rhode Island PBS to discuss boosting college access in Rhode Island.
A total of 30 middle school students are on the Brown campus this month as part of the Brown Collegiate Scholars Program, which will also provide year-round support including one-on-one advising, tutoring, mentoring, and college visits.
Just 55 percent of Providence public school students enroll in two-year or four-year colleges or universities immediately after graduation, according to the state Department of Education. The compares to 63 percent in Boston and 81 percent in New York City.
Figueroa attributed that in part to the number of guidance counselors that are in Providence schools, saying the ratio is roughly 250 or 300 students to each counselor. “So it’s incredibly difficult to build relationships with students when you have that many that you have to work with,” he said.
A college degree can be life changing, Figueroa said. “You are bound to make about a million more dollars in your lifetime if you achieve a bachelor’s degree, and about a million-and-a-half more if you have a master’s degree,” he said. “And of course, when it comes to taxes as well, it’s a benefit to the tax system to have higher-income earners paying back into the system.”
But the cost of a college education can pose a major barrier for many families. For example, the tuition, room, board and fees at Brown University totaled $88,948 in the 2023-24 academic year.
“Here’s where we have to be very intentional with financial aid,” Figueroa said. “Part of this program is also working with parents this fall to begin a process of talking about financial aid and financial literacy as a whole.”
Families need to understand what scholarships are available and how to negotiate with colleges once a student has received an acceptance letter, he said.
Americans now owe about $1.7 trillion in total student loan debt. “It is a very serious issue for our country as a whole,” Figueroa said. “Obviously, when you decide to go to a school, you want to make sure that that school is providing you the best financial aid package possible.”
At some point, families may need to take out loans, he said. “But understand what the components of that loan are, what the terms are, and also realize that it’s an investment in yourself,” he said.
To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above.
Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.