Expanding College Access for Rural Coders - STARS College Network Partners with Codefi's Youth Coding League
March 5, 2025
Opportunities for rural students with an interest in coding just got a major boost. The STARS College Network,1 a consortium of 32 top universities dedicated to supporting small-town and rural students, has partnered with Codefi’s Youth Coding League2 to create new pathways to elite universities for young coders in rural communities.
Through this collaboration, STARS will provide college advising, mentorship, and support to YCL participants in rural communities, ensuring that students with an interest in technology and coding have the resources they need to pursue a four year college degree. Additionally, STARS member institutions will work closely with YCL teams to introduce students to internship and scholarship opportunities that could shape their futures.
A Shared Commitment to Rural Student’s Success
The Youth Coding League, launched by the Codefi Foundation on Rural Innovation in 2018, has been transforming how students in small towns engage with technology each Fall and Spring through its competitive coding program. By gamifying the learning process and providing a custom industry-aligned curriculum, YCL makes coding accessible and compelling for middle and junior high school students, many of whom may not have had access to computer science education. YCL teams are rooted in schools, libraries, and economic development organizations across the U.S., and have grown from 10 teams in Missouri to over 80 teams in 14 states, serving thousands of young coders with skills benefiting them both now academically and in their future careers.
The new partnership with the STARS College Network ensures that these motivated young coders will have greater exposure to top universities - and the means to access those educational opportunities and bring their new skills back home. The STARS College Network partners with top colleges to ensure that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice. In its inaugural year, the STARS College Network opened doors to higher education for more than a quarter-million students, and its expansion in its second year added flagship state schools, historically Black colleges, Ivy League universities, and other selective institutions, spreading STARS’ reach to more regions across the nation.
How the Partnership Will Support Rural Coders
This partnership will go beyond simply encouraging students to pursue college—it provides tangible support, including:
- College Admissions Guidance: STARS member institutions will send admissions representatives to YCL-participating schools, offering workshops on applications, course planning, financial aid, and scholarships.
- Mentorship & Community Building: Current STARS students from rural backgrounds will be available to share their experiences with YCL participants, sharing their insights about college life.
- On-Campus & Virtual Programming: Rural coders will have the opportunity to visit STARS colleges through fly-in programs, as well as attend virtual events designed to introduce them to computer science programs at top universities.
Paving the Way for Future Tech Leaders
By working together, the STARS College Network and Codefi’s Youth Coding League are ensuring that talented young coders in small-town and rural America have the same opportunities as their urban peers. Whether through scholarships, mentorship, or direct connections to top universities, this initiative will help students see a future where their coding skills can take them anywhere, and aligns with Codefi’s mission to eliminate the skills and opportunity gaps preventing workers and entrepreneurs in rural regions from thriving in the digital economy.
For more information about this partnership and how students can get involved, visit STARS College Network and the Youth Coding League.