Closing education gaps for first-gen Latino students
Degrees Sin Barreras is a community + 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.
Visit the platform ↗︎External link to the public landing page and resource hub.
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.
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.
Community + playbooks + 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 (TikTok, 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.
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 + 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.
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 to track cost saved, credits earned, and time-to-degree.
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.