About Us
About College Factor
College Factor is a nonprofit organization on a mission to help students from low-income communities to graduate from college and launch successful careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We collaborate with high schools, universities, community organizations and industry professionals to provide the academic support and career guidance students need to succeed.
Mission
Empower students to become college graduates and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Vision
A future where a student's chance to earn a college degree depends on their dedication to learning, not their ethnic, cultural or socioeconomic background.
Values
Quality education makes a difference.
Success begins with having the opportunity to succeed.
Learning is an experience every student is capable of achieving.
Understand the needs of the communities we serve.
Our Foundation
College Factor has laid a strong foundation through school partnerships, direct student engagement and public advocacy.
We piloted a four-month bilingual math program in a high school geometry class, collaborating on instruction and lesson planning. College Factor earned a formal letter of recommendation from the school praising College Factor's "unwavering commitment to our community and the quality of their programs".
College Factor has presented at numerous high schools to promote college readiness and STEM careers, delivering sessions in both English and Spanish to reach a broader student audience.
We've also raised awareness of the barriers that prevent low-income students from becoming college graduates. Carlos Cárdenas, founder of College Factor, testified before the DC Council on Education and wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian.
About the Founder
Carlos Cárdenas is the founder of College Factor and has over 15 years of experience teaching mathematics at both the college and high school levels. He holds a master's degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University and is an educator committed to making mathematics both meaningful and accessible for students from underserved communities.
Carlos is a native of Queens, New York. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia with limited formal education and English proficiency, yet they always emphasized the importance of earning a college degree. From a young age, Carlos excelled in mathematics, driven by the work ethic his parents instilled and their dedicated involvement in his education. Their guidance, despite limited resources, was the driving force behind his belief that he could succeed. That belief now drives his work at College Factor creating the support systems that help students from underserved communities thrive in mathematics and beyond.