Degrees Sin Barreras
Closing education gaps for first-gen Latino students. A community and tech initiative to help Latino students graduate faster and cheaper using alternative credit pathways, mentorship, and practical resources, so degrees feel possible, not out of reach.
Why this project
I’m the first in my family to navigate US higher ed. Degrees Sin Barreras is my way of turning that lived experience into a repeatable system other families can use, especially Latino students facing the same maze of cost, time, and information gaps.
Built as a living experiment in systems design, community building, and impact at scale: an onboarding-to-adoption pipeline that consolidates CLEP, Sophia, and WGU pathways into a Discord and Notion LMS, with MailerLite automations tracking engagement, as a test of a framework that could scale nationally.
Problem
Structural gaps in Latino degree access
Only 1 in 5 Latinos hold a bachelor’s degree. Compared to white peers, Latino students take longer to finish, carry higher debt loads, and are more likely to default on loans. Much of this isn’t ability. It’s access, information, and support.
- Limited awareness of CLEP, Sophia, and other low-cost credit options.
- First-gen students navigating admissions, aid, and transfers alone.
- High tuition and living costs that push students into stop-outs or debt traps.
Solution
Community, playbooks, and tech rails
Degrees Sin Barreras packages the messy parts of “how do I actually do this?” into clear steps, peer support, and lightweight automation.
- Discord community for peer accountability, Q&A, and mentorship.
- Notion LMS modules that explain CLEP, Sophia, WGU, and credit-transfer strategy.
- Social campaigns on TikTok and Facebook to meet students where they already are.
- MailerLite automations for onboarding, verification, and simple progress tracking.
The goal: turn confusing bureaucracy into a repeatable, checklist-driven path.
Traction
Early signal and a long-term vision
This is still early, but the system is already moving from idea to execution.
- Initial TikTok campaigns generated organic engagement within days of launch.
- Discord and Notion infrastructure live, with first members exploring modules.
- Messaging tested with educators and families to tighten language and fit.
Long-term, the vision is a national network of playbooks, mentors, and partner schools lowering cost-to-degree for thousands of underrepresented students.
Tech stack
Lightweight, scalable infrastructure
Built intentionally on tools that are accessible, low-cost, and easy to extend.
| Discord | Community hub and bot-driven learning space |
|---|---|
| Notion | Resource library, curriculum, and knowledge base |
| MailerLite | Onboarding flows, verification, and analytics |
| TikTok + Facebook | Outreach, storytelling, and distribution |
| Future | Data dashboards for cost saved, credits earned, and time to degree |
Join the mission
See how the system works, or help me improve it
Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or operator building similar programs, you’re welcome to explore the live version of Degrees Sin Barreras and share feedback. Curious but busy? Skim the landing page first. It walks through the student journey and tools in plain language.