Service to Scholarship: City Year Unlocks College Credit for AmeriCorps

BOSTON, MA – May 08, 2026 – A new initiative is set to transform the landscape of national service, turning a year of community work into a tangible academic advantage. City Year, in a landmark partnership with the State University of New York (SUNY) system, announced that its AmeriCorps members can now earn college credit for their service. This move, which formally recognizes the rigorous training and hands-on experience of student success coaches, aims to create more affordable and accessible pathways to higher education and careers for thousands of young adults.

The initiative, validated by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS), allows AmeriCorps members serving full-time to gain access to up to 10 academic credits. The announcement coincides with the launch of the New York Student Success Coach Learning Network, a statewide coalition designed to scale the impact of in-school mentoring and support.

A New Model for Valuing Service

At the heart of the announcement is the formal recognition that the learning achieved through national service meets college-level standards. NCCRS, a nationally recognized third-party evaluator founded by the New York State Board of Regents, conducted a thorough assessment of City Year’s learning and development program. The evaluation affirmed the depth of the experience, which includes structured coursework in public service and youth development, competency-based training, and portfolio assessments.

This academic endorsement translates directly into credits: members completing 1,700-hour service roles can earn up to 10 credits, while those in 1,200-hour roles can earn 9. For the young adults who dedicate a year to partnering with teachers and providing tutoring and mentorship, this validation is a game-changer.

“National service is evolving, and City Year is excited to be a part of innovation that prepares young people for meaningful post-service career and education opportunities,” said City Year CEO Jim Balfanz. “By translating the learning that happens through AmeriCorps service into academic credit, we are reimagining how service, education, and workforce pathways connect. This innovative approach recognizes that the skills developed through service—working on diverse teams, supporting students in classrooms, and tackling complex challenges—are real, rigorous, and worthy of formal recognition.”

This sentiment was echoed by the accrediting body. “We are honored to collaborate with City Year in recognizing the depth and rigor of their service programs," said NCCRS Director Lisa Sax Mahoney. "This work reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the knowledge and skills gained through service are valued by higher education partners like SUNY and can support participants on their path to college admission and completion.”

The SUNY Partnership: A Blueprint for National Scale

The State University of New York will serve as the inaugural higher education partner, a move that provides immediate credibility and a clear pathway for City Year members. SUNY’s commitment extends beyond simply accepting the credits; the university system intends to help grow the opportunity from a statewide pilot to a national model.

“Part of a well-rounded public higher education is participating in service and civic engagement, and providing academic credit for civic service experience recognizes the knowledge and skills students gain from these experiences,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. “SUNY is proud to work with City Year to support students who have undertaken service-based activities and to establish academic credits for those students as they attend the SUNY campus of their choice.”

SUNY Erie Community College has already begun implementing the program, awarding course credits to admitted City Year alumni. The partnership is a key component of SUNY's broader civic engagement strategy, which includes the Empire State Service Corps. The long-term vision is to create a replicable framework that other universities and service organizations across the country can adopt, fundamentally changing how experiential learning is integrated into formal education.

Tangible Benefits for Young Leaders

For AmeriCorps members, the initiative offers a powerful combination of benefits that directly addresses the rising cost of higher education. The newly available credits are stackable with the existing Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which provides members with a grant—currently valued at approximately $7,395 for a full-time service term—to be used for tuition or student loan repayment. Combined with a bi-weekly living stipend, the addition of up to 10 college credits significantly enhances the financial viability of a service year.

This multi-faceted support system promises to reduce student debt and shorten the time required to earn a degree, thereby strengthening pathways to career readiness and economic mobility. The initiative is backed by multi-year investments from philanthropic organizations like Einhorn Collaborative and Carnegie Corporation of New York, which see the model as a powerful engine for social progress.

“Whether it’s through the expansion of the Student Success Coach Learning Network in New York or through the new model that provides credit for prior learning through service with SUNY as an inaugural partner — City Year is at the forefront of innovation in national service,” said Jennifer Hoos Rothberg, Executive Director of Einhorn Collaborative. She noted that the effort equips young people “with the skills and mindsets to build relationships and collaborate across lines of difference” and will “set a blueprint for other states to follow.”

Scaling Success: The Student Success Coach Learning Network

Building on this momentum, City Year also announced the launch of the New York Student Success Coach Learning Network. This statewide coalition, starting as a pilot with seven partner programs, will create a community of practice to share expertise and elevate the impact of student success coaching across the state.

The model is not theoretical; it builds directly on proven results from a similar network in California. Funded through a state investment via California Volunteers, the program has deployed over 1,000 coaches across 30 communities, supporting more than 75,000 students. Data from this network demonstrates measurable gains in attendance, academic performance, and graduation outcomes. For example, studies showed that 50% of students served by the coaches achieved a 90% or better attendance rate.

“The launch of the SSC Learning Network in New York is about connecting the dots between proven programs, shared learning, and now with college credit access attached to service, a career pathway,” said City Year Chief Transformation Officer Stephanie Wu. “Scaling in this way is good for everyone.”

The broad support for this strategy is evident. "Carnegie Corporation of New York is delighted to support City Year's work as it receives this recognition... affirming that serving as a student success coach represents meaningful, credit-worthy learning," stated Saskia Levy Thompson of the foundation. New York State Senator Patricia Fahy also praised the partnership, calling it “an important step forward in recognizing the sheer value in experiential learning” that will “develop more opportunities for students to excel academically while giving back to their communities.”

Both the college credit initiative and the launch of the New York network were formally announced at City Year Buffalo’s annual gala, where SUNY Chancellor King was honored for his leadership in expanding access to higher education and economic mobility, underscoring the deep collaboration at the core of this transformative effort.