CALSOAP Los Angeles

What CALSOAP Los Angeles does

CALSOAP Los Angeles (legal name: The Los Angeles Education Consortium), operating under the brand CALSOAP LA, is a California non-profit educational access consortium founded in 1997 and funded by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) as part of the statewide California Student Opportunity and Access Program established by the California legislature in 1978. The organization delivers free college-access and success services to high school students and their families across approximately 18 partner schools in Los Angeles County, with a particular focus on first-generation college-going populations.

The service portfolio spans financial aid assistance (FAFSA and California Dream Act Application completion), college and career planning, first-year college persistence support, peer counseling, and student/family workshops. Service delivery relies on Student Success Coaches — recruited as first-generation college graduates and alumni of partner schools — embedded directly at high school sites, supplemented by virtual programming delivered via Zoom webinars, tutor.com-powered online tutoring, Calendly-scheduled one-on-one appointments, and an annual College & Career Expo. The organization has supported over 10,000 students in completing FAFSA or CADAA forms. The underlying technology stack is entirely third-party SaaS; CALSOAP LA has no proprietary software, data assets, or AI/ML capabilities in evidence.

The business model is a non-revenue-generating service model: 100% of operating funding flows from California state legislative appropriations administered by CSAC, with no fees charged to students or families and no diversified philanthropic, corporate, or fee-based revenue stream disclosed. Fiscal sponsorship has migrated over time from Families In Schools (2018-2020) to East Los Angeles College Foundation (2020-2026) and is scheduled to move to California State University, Los Angeles as of July 1, 2026. Governance is provided by a consortium board that includes UCLA, multiple CSU and UC campuses, community colleges, and community-based organizations.

Name

CALSOAP Los Angeles

Legal name

The Los Angeles Education Consortium (CalSOAP LA)

Website

https://calsoapla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CALSOAP Los Angeles is a non-profit educational consortium funded by the California Student Aid Commission that provides free college-access and financial aid assistance to high school students and families across 18+ partner schools in Los Angeles County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDANAEAI

Financial Aid, Scholarships & FAFSA/CSS Profile Support

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/College Admissions Counseling & Application Support

SECONDARYEDAMAKAF

Scholarship, Financial Aid & FAFSA Support

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/College & Career Enrichment (Mentorship, Internships, Portfolio)

Keywords

• College access services
• Financial aid assistance
• FAFSA completion support
• College readiness programs
• High school counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grant Funding: CALSOAP Los Angeles is a state-funded program administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Funding comes from California state legislature appropriations. The program operates as a non-profit consortium with grant funding as its primary revenue source.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CALSOAP Los Angeles is a non-profit educational consortium that provides free college access and success services to high school students and their families in Los Angeles County. Its offerings include FAFSA and CADAA completion assistance, college and career planning, peer counseling, student/family workshops, free online tutoring, and first-year college persistence support. Services are delivered primarily through Student Success Coaches stationed at partner high schools, supplemented by virtual sessions, workshops, and an annual College & Career Expo.

Product overview

CALSOAP Los Angeles is a non-profit educational support organization that operates as a consortium program funded by the California Student Aid Commission. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of college access and success services primarily delivered through Student Success Coaches stationed at partner high schools. Core services include Financial Aid Assistance (FAFSA/CADAA completion support), College and Career Planning, First Year Success support, Peer Counseling, and Student/Family Workshops. The program also runs specialized offerings including the CALSOAP LEAGUE of LA for personal development, Cash for College Workshops, Free On-Demand Online Tutoring (via tutor.com), and Summer Melt Prevention services. Annual signature events include the College & Career Expo and the Transition to Senior Year Summer Program. Services are delivered through one-on-one appointments (scheduled via Calendly), virtual sessions (via Zoom), and in-person workshops at partner schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CALSOAP LEAGUE of LA: A program that helps high school and college students unlock their superpowers through mentorship and leadership development.

Products and services

• Financial Aid Assistance Helps students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to access higher education funding, available to all students regardless of GPA or residency status.
• College and Career Planning
• First Year Success
• Peer Counseling
• Student/Family Workshops
• CALSOAP LEAGUE of LA Program that helps high school and college students develop personal leadership and self-empowerment skills through mentorship activities.
• Cash for College Workshops Hands-on workshops providing step-by-step assistance with completing FAFSA and CADAA applications, held at partner schools and community locations.
• Free On-Demand Online Tutoring Free online tutoring service for students at CALSOAP partner high schools delivered via tutor.com with no GPA or citizenship requirements.
• College & Career Expo Annual expo held in person and virtually that connects students and families with colleges, universities, financial aid resources, and career opportunities through exhibitor booths, workshops, and Cash for College sessions.
• Summer Melt Prevention First-Year Persistence Specialists help college-bound students who fail to enroll in the fall due to missed deadlines, anxiety, or financial aid issues, supporting orientation registration, transcript submission, and financial aid completion.
• Office Hours (One-on-One Appointments) Individual appointments scheduled with CALSOAP LA staff via Calendly for first-time college students needing support with financial aid applications, college transition questions, and the college-going process.
• Transition to Senior Year Summer Program College readiness summer program for rising seniors at consortium schools that provides resources and personalized action plans to prepare for the college application process.
• Student Success Coaches First-generation college students and alumni of partner schools who are stationed on-site at partner high schools to provide direct college-going support to current students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of seniors who complete FAFSA are more likely to immediately enroll in post-secondary education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026As of July 1, 2026, CALSOAP LA moves to Cal State LA as its new fiscal agent and host institution.
• East Los Angeles College FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020Fiscal agent and administrative host for CALSOAP LA from July 2020 through June 2026. Provides office space and administrative support. Continues to serve on governing board after transition.
• California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that administers the CALSOAP program statewide and provides primary funding. Established the program in 1978. CALSOAP LA is a program of CSAC.
• East West BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for #THISGEN2022 event, demonstrating commitment to supporting youth education and career development.
• Tournament of RosesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost organization for #THISGEN2022 event for high school and college students featuring inspirational speakers and networking opportunities.
• Campaign for College OpportunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Student Leadership Institute program where CALSOAP coaches participate in higher education policy training and advocacy.
• Families In Schools (FIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious fiscal agent from 2018-2020. Continues to support CALSOAP LA by serving on governing board. Co-hosted Alliance Summit events.
• Los Angeles Community College DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibitor and partner at CALSOAP College & Career Expo. Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez spoke at expo events.
• UCLAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity exhibitor at CALSOAP College & Career Expo providing admission information and resources.
• UC System (UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, UC Merced, UC Irvine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple UC campuses participate as exhibitors at annual College & Career Expo.
• CSU System (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Northridge, Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple CSU campuses participate as exhibitors at annual College & Career Expo.
• LA Cash for CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner organization providing financial aid workshops and support.
• Community Colleges (East Los Angeles College, Pasadena City College, Rio Hondo College, Compton College, Long Beach City College, LA Trade Tech, LA Harbor College, LA City College, Los Angeles Mission College)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple community college partners participate as exhibitors at College & Career Expo.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bottom Line: Nonprofit providing one-on-one college access and success advising for first-generation students from low-income communities, with an end-to-end pipeline model that closely mirrors CALSOAP LA's freshman-through-first-year approach.
• College Possible: National nonprofit that places near-peer coaches in high schools to coach low-income and first-generation students through college admission, financial aid, and persistence — a direct functional analog to CALSOAP LA's Student Success Coach model.
• College Success Foundation: Supports low-income, first-generation students through college readiness, access, and persistence programs — operates similar school-embedded advising with comparable student populations.
• Campaign for College Opportunity: California-focused nonprofit advocating for and supporting college access for low-income and first-generation students; collaborates with CALSOAP LA on policy training and shares the same regional student demographic.
• OneGoal: College persistence nonprofit that partners with high schools to deliver a multi-year college readiness and success program for low-income students — comparable cohort-based, school-embedded delivery model.
• College Forward: Nonprofit supporting low-income and first-generation students from high school through college graduation with near-peer coaching, directly comparable to CALSOAP LA's full-pipeline model.
• National College Advising Corps: Places recent college graduates as advisers in underserved high schools to expand college access — a structural twin to CALSOAP LA's on-site Student Success Coach delivery approach.
• Cash for College (LA Cash for College): LA-based regional network providing financial aid workshops and FAFSA/CADAA completion support — directly overlaps with CALSOAP LA's Cash for College workshops and partner relationship.
• uAspire (ECMF Foundation): Nonprofit specializing in financial aid advising and FAFSA completion support for low-income students, closely aligned with CALSOAP LA's core financial aid and FAFSA/CADAA completion service line.

Regional players

• Families In Schools: LA-based education nonprofit that previously served as CALSOAP LA's fiscal agent and continues to partner with it; operates in the same LA County ecosystem serving similar student and family populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calsoapla
• Instagraminstagram.com/calsoapla
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calsoapla

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CALSOAP Los Angeles