DescriptionThis mixed-methods study examines the pathways and barriers to college and the postsecondary outcomes of students who graduate from public high schools in Yonkers, New York. The project describes the ways in which students plan for life after high school and negotiate the college search and selection process. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participant observation were used to inform findings. The data show that students from Yonkers have high levels of college intentions and enrollment; in some cases, these levels are at or above national norms. This is especially encouraging, considering that Yonkers is a high-needs school district and that most graduates qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, are members of underrepresented minorities, and are potential first-generation college goers. Recent cohorts of Yonkers graduates enroll in postsecondary institutions more quickly than previous cohorts and persist into the second year at higher rates. Yonkers graduates have had mixed success with degree attainment. Survey, interview, and focus group data demonstrated that financial aid and family support systems were key to persistence toward graduation. Participants demonstrated low levels of financial awareness and many misconceptions about college costs, financial aid, and student loans.