Arizona is facing an urgent postsecondary attainment challenge. Fewer than half of the state’s high school graduates enroll in college, and only 39% of working-age adults hold a degree. With seven out of 10 jobs now requiring education beyond high school, the state must dramatically increase the number of students who persist, transfer, and complete a credential to meet future workforce demands.
Northern Arizona University is stepping up to help close this gap. NAU is building new partnerships with community colleges across northern Arizona to expand access to higher education and improve student success.
This work gained major momentum in March 2023, when Helios Education Foundation approved a $3.8 million investment – matched by the Northern Arizona University Foundation – to launch the Arizona College Excellence (ACE) initiative. That effort has since evolved into AZ Ahead, a program designed to help community college students, especially those from rural and tribal communities, transfer to NAU and earn their degrees.
AZ Ahead began in 2023 through partnerships with Arizona Western College, Coconino Community College, Mohave College, and Northland Pioneer College. The network continues to grow, with Central Arizona College joining in fall 2026.
AZ Ahead is fully integrated into NAU’s Arizona Attainment Alliance (A++), a statewide ecosystem designed to strengthen pathways from high school to community college to university. Students in AZ Ahead receive individualized support, including academic advising, mentoring, and career planning.
They also receive robust financial assistance – including scholarships, summer stipends, and basic needs support – to help them manage the real costs of college, from tuition and transportation to technology and other essentials.
“[AZ Ahead] is our commitment to students throughout Arizona that NAU is a partner in supporting aspirations for upward mobility, workforce preparedness, and social impact.
It is an example of the power of the A++ model to use our collective reach as distinct institutions to positively impact students and communities, delivering true value from higher education and driving prosperity in every corner of the state.”
AZ Ahead was built on the essential components of the Yuma Educational Success (YES) Program, a proven model created through a $2.7 million Helios investment in 2019.
The YES Program was designed to support graduates of the Yuma Union High School District on a successful journey from Arizona Western College to NAU. It helped students persist and complete their degrees through holistic case management, academic advising, life-skills workshops, family engagement, career planning, mentorship, and scholarships.
To date, the YES Program – now operating under AZ Ahead – has served more than 600 students. An independent evaluation released in 2022 showed:
These outcomes demonstrate what’s possible when institutions align around student needs. AZ Ahead is now expanding this model across northern Arizona through new partnerships and a wider student reach supported by Helios and NAU’s combined investments.
The first AZ Ahead cohort launched in fall 2024, and participation continues to grow across partner institutions. Initial reports show that students participating in AZ Ahead are persisting at high rates, maintaining strong GPAs, and experiencing little credit loss. These are early indicators that the program’s support is working.
“AZ Ahead is an example of what can happen when institutions change to facilitate the success of modern students based on what they need,” says AZ Ahead Director Princess Benally.
One of the initiative’s early strengths is its monthly mentorship meetings, which bring students together to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.
AZ Ahead Manager Derik Yellowhair notes that these gatherings “foster a strong sense of community and personal development” and provide “a powerful opportunity for students to build confidence.”
For many students, the scholarship support is transformative. Some use the funds for tuition, laptops or school supplies while others use it to help with household expenses. Program leaders emphasize that the concierge support students receive is just as important as the financial assistance.
As Gina Patterson, student development coordinator for AZ Ahead, explains, “Some students need all the resources available to succeed, while others just need to know that someone cares about them and is rooting for them.”
The success of AZ Ahead and the YES programs are already leaving their mark on Arizona’s postsecondary landscape, with the potential to influence nationwide reforms to postsecondary education. "We believe that as these programs continue to grow, they will serve as a national model for other colleges and universities to emulate,” says Benally.
As Arizona’s population grows and its economy becomes more competitive, the need for a highly educated workforce will only intensify. AZ Ahead meets this moment by expanding access to higher education, closing equity gaps, and empowering students across rural, tribal, and underserved communities to pursue meaningful careers.
With Helios’ investment and NAU’s leadership, AZ Ahead is helping community college students complete their education journeys – and it’s just getting started.
