What is a Summer Bridge Program and How Can It Help Students?

Increasing enrollment numbers is always a high priority for most colleges and universities. When it comes down to it, attracting prospective students means your campus needs an effective outreach program. One way to support new students in their transition to higher education is to create a summer bridge program.

You’re in the right place if you’re asking, “What is a summer bridge program?” Let’s define this kind of program, the benefits your campus will reap with a summer bridge program, and what you can do to keep students engaged throughout their time with your program.

What is a Summer Bridge Program?

A summer bridge program is designed to help prospective college students smoothly transition from high school to university. These programs are intended for incoming first-year students or transfer students new to your campus.

Typically, new students apply to enroll in the program. Throughout the summer, students participate in various activities designed to prepare them for their first semester on campus. Some of these activities include classes like math and science refresher courses and workshops focused on personal finance and development.

While most summer bridge programs are geared toward incoming first-year students, there are various types of programs your campus might want to consider—like TRIO’s Upward Bound program.

Instead of focusing on incoming students, Upward Bound’s initiative is to engage with low-income high school students, introduce them to future career paths, and guide them through the college application process.

These programs often include access to tutoring, academic support, time management workshops, and even peer mentors who help new students build a sense of belonging as they prepare for college life.

Two Major Campus-Wide Benefits of a Summer Bridge Program 

No matter which kind of summer bridge program your campus implements—be it for incoming first-year students or high school students—these programs are a great way to engage with students looking to continue their education on your campus. And your campus will benefit, too:

1. Boost Student Retention Rates

Summer bridge programs are a great way to foster connections between students and their academic advisors and mentors. During these programs, academic advisors can get to know their students on a deeper, more personal level. This kind of connection often leads to academic success, especially for summer bridge students who are still adjusting to college life.

According to the Center for Community College Student Engagement, 92% of returning students said academic advising was vital to their success. 

Students who feel connected to their campus resources are more likely to stay enrolled in their chosen programs. This means you’ll likely see higher retention rates and long-term student success.

2. Increase Graduation Rates

Summer bridge programs aim to ensure students are prepared for their fall semester. These programs help students strengthen their coursework skills so they can begin their academic year with confidence and direction.

Some programs work with students to improve their GPA or complete college credit coursework that will count toward their degree. These early interventions can play a key role in long-term student support and graduation rates.

How to Connect with Prospective Students of Your Summer Bridge Program

1. Create a Mailing List

To get prospective students interested in your summer bridge program, you’ll need to advertise it to relevant audiences. If your program is geared toward high school students, connect with local schools and set up an initial interest meeting. Then, gather contact information to create a mailing list.

When it’s time to connect with students, use Mongoose to initiate instant, two-way communication and invite them to apply. Once enrolled, continue sending updates about summer programs and related activities.

Increase Advisors’ Availability 

Prospective new students often have questions—especially if your summer bridge program is a new initiative. Live chat and AI-powered assistants are great solutions to ensure students can get answers when advisors aren’t available.

Mongoose Chat provides real-time, in-person style support through a live shared inbox, while AI Assistants can automate basic answers to frequently asked questions, helping students feel supported and informed.

Tailor Your Program to Student Needs

Summer bridge programs are flexible by design. Use tools like Mongoose Performance Insights to analyze interactions, identify gaps in support services, and understand what your students need most.

With Mongoose’s Intelligence Hub, you can track topic trends, gather feedback, and improve the effectiveness of your academic support efforts across each cohort of summer bridge students.

Stay Connected in Your Summer Bridge Program

Summer bridge programs are all about creating and maintaining meaningful connections with students as they enter the world of higher education. Whether through peer mentors, AI chat tools, or targeted messaging, Mongoose makes it easy to spark and sustain engagement.

Book a demo today to learn how Mongoose can help build connections that support student success across your campus.

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