Through a new partnership with Reading Memorial High School (RMHS), EmpowerED Finances, and Reading Cooperative Bank, Endicott College is pioneering an innovative pathway to high-quality personal finance education and early college credit for high school students in the Reading, Mass., community.
Students from RMHS will participate in EmpowerED’s 14-week Financial Freedom Launchpad, an academically rigorous, culturally responsive course that blends college-level instruction with real-world financial application. As part of the program, students will have the opportunity to earn three college credits through Endicott College, accelerating their path to higher education while building essential life skills.
Students will explore foundational financial concepts, including budgeting, saving, credit, and interest, all anchored in scenarios that reflect the financial realities young people face today.
“Initiatives like this reflect Endicott College’s deep commitment to educational accessibility and early exposure to college-level learning,” said Sarah Bailes, Director of the Division of Professional Studies at Endicott College. “By giving high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while building practical financial skills, we are helping remove barriers to higher education and empowering students to make confident, informed decisions that will benefit them well beyond the classroom.”
The partnership builds on Endicott’s broader mission to deliver transformational, experience-powered learning and to create innovative pathways that connect students to college, careers, and lifelong success. For Endicott, the RMHS pilot reflects a commitment to partnerships that extend the College’s impact throughout the region, with the goal of to scaling this financially-sound, credit-bearing model to more high schools, creating earlier, more equitable entry points to higher education and career readiness across Massachusetts.
“Reading Memorial High School is deeply committed to ensuring that all students are prepared for life post high school, and an essential part of this preparation lies in students having a working understanding of financial literacy,” said Principal Jessica Callanan, Reading Memorial High School. “EmpowerED brings a curriculum that is engaging, practical, and aligned to what students truly need to navigate adulthood.”
National data underscore the urgency of this work:
- Just 4% of Americans demonstrate full proficiency on seven core personal finance questions.
- In a 2025 survey of college-age students, 29% reported overdrawing their checking accounts and 16% reported late or missed credit-card payments in the prior six months.
- Nearly 7 in 10 college students report that they experienced financial challenges while in school.
“We are thrilled to bring this level of rigor, relevance, and opportunity to Reading Memorial High School,” said Farida Graham, Co-Founder of EmpowerED Finances. “Our results show that when students access high-quality financial education—paired with meaningful incentives and direct engagement with financial professionals—their confidence and knowledge accelerate. RMHS is joining a cohort of visionary schools leading the way. We are grateful to Endicott College and Reading Cooperative Bank for partnering with us to invest in young people and their futures.”
In addition to earning three college credits, students who complete the course will receive up to $100 in matching funds from Reading Cooperative Bank to jump-start their savings journey. The bank will also host a celebratory event for students and their families at the conclusion of the program.
“At Reading Cooperative Bank, financial education and access is at the heart of our mission to build stronger communities,” said Julieann Thurlow, CEO of Reading Cooperative Bank. “By investing in programs like this, we’re helping young people gain both the knowledge and the confidence to make informed financial decisions. Seeing students earn college credit—and their first savings match—underscores how real-world financial learning can open doors to greater independence and opportunity.”
For Endicott, the program also reflects a growing commitment to partnerships that extend the College’s impact beyond campus and into regional communities, creating earlier, more equitable entry points to higher education and career readiness.