Thought Leadership
Thought Leadership
December 8, 2025
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As I reflect on the journey of Kaplan’s All Access License, a program I've had the distinct honor of leading since its inception, 2025 stands out as a pivotal year. Launched to break down financial barriers and broaden access to help students reach their career goals, the scale and impact is now larger than ever, leading to countless stories of the transformative reality this vital program will have for years to come.
Beyond the difference free test prep makes in the lives of students today, the vision of the future impact on potential score increases translating into scholarships for graduate or professional school and/or potentially higher-paying jobs truly reminds us that this program is changing lives.
Together with our growing network of partners, we achieved numerous prestigious industry award recognitions, drove meaningful change through a groundbreaking state-wide initiative, and heard deeply personal stories from students like Vivian, who found her pathway to law school. This year’s accomplishments are a testament to the power of partnership and innovation in ensuring every student is ready for their next big step.
Building on the accolades we’ve received the past couple of years, 2025 found the All Access License program setting the standard again, with additional awards for this proven solution. The best part? These awards validate the trust our partners have placed in us and the program. They reinforce that together we are pursuing cutting-edge ideas and looking at new ways to drive student success. We’re honored to be the recipients of six new industry awards in 2025, built on tangible results, scaled impact, and innovation in EdTech.
The scale of our All Access License program continues to grow, driving immense collective impact across the nation. Since the launch in 2022 through this year, as we develop new partnerships and reach new students, it’s opening doors of new opportunities by giving them free access to essential educational resources for their next big step after graduation. Our latest results (as of Nov. 18, 2025) include:
120+ partner institutions
Tens of thousands of participating students
$51 million+ in combined student savings
Catching the vision of increasing access for all, in 2025 we were thrilled to welcome aboard a host of new institutions offering Kaplan’s All Access License. From universities to higher education professional associations, to a state agency, the variety of organizations sharing a common goal of commitment to student success is a shining light for our future.
Even more, the new partners show a broad spectrum of how this program can be applied across different school types and needs. With schools ranging from large state universities to regional private schools, to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the All Access License is truly customizable to reach all students where and when they need it most. A sample of our new partners this year includes:
Association for Program Administrators of CSTEP and STEP, Inc.
Higher Education Opportunity Program Professional Organization
In a bold partnership making history, in February 2025 Kaplan launched a groundbreaking workforce development and higher education initiative with the State of Illinois. Through a new partnership powered by Kaplan’s All Access License, Illinois became the first state to offer free, comprehensive test preparation to its students at public universities and select community colleges throughout the state. Now, more than 200,000 eligible Illinois students have free access to 40+ educational courses to help them take their next step after graduation.
The initiative was met with enthusiastic praise from state and academic leaders:
"The access to high quality test preparation courses for exams like the MCAT®, DAT, and LSAT® at no cost to students will be the biggest equalizer on a truly systemic level for students attending Illinois public universities that I will likely see in my career as a pre-professional advisor."
—Misty Huacuja-LaPointe, Director, Pre-Professional Advising, University of Illinois Chicago
“Students are realizing that getting their first job out of college is not going to be that easy this year in particular. The fact that they can learn a bit more before they graduate [with Kaplan’s All Access License]…that will give them a leg up compared to other students that are out in the marketplace.”
—Dr. Jorge Villegas, Associate Dean and Professor of Marketing, University of Illinois Springfield
During a webinar panel on “Expanding Access: Illinois’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success”, Dr. Jorge Villegas, Associate Dean and Professor of Marketing at the University of Illinois Springfield shared his initial reaction to knowing that free test prep would be available to all students.
Several of our new Illinois partner schools shared their experiences implementing Kaplan’s All Access License along with the high praise of students upon hearing the news:
How the University of Illinois Springfield Is Developing Job-Ready Students
Malcolm X College’s Model for Removing Barriers to Student Success
How Chicago State University Is Paving the Way for Student Success
At the end of the day, the students are the driving force behind why we all do what we do. And some stories serve as a powerful reminder of the profound impact of removing financial barriers. Vivian's story is one of them. Growing up with a family member impacted by the criminal justice system, she developed a passion for advocating for others—but lacked the financial resources to clear a pathway to an impactful legal career.
Thanks to the partnership between Cleveland State University and Kaplan, Vivian received free access to her LSAT prep, a critical step toward law school. This provided her a structured and time-tested way to prepare for the exam with confidence. The result? A score high enough that she’s now considering applying to more competitive schools.
“I really didn't know much about the LSAT itself at all. And I didn't have any other resources. I didn't really know what to do until I started using Kaplan.”
–Vivian, All Access License Participant
Vivian, a student at Cleveland State University (CSU), shares the initial challenges she faced in preparing for her next big step after graduation as she goes on to law school. She was able to take advantage of her school offering free access to industry-leading test prep through Kaplan’s All Access License to prepare for the LSAT.
The success of the All Access License is echoed by the leaders on the front lines of student support. Delaware State University’s (DSU) Dr. Shonda Poe, Executive Director for the Office of Undergraduate Research, Experiential Learning, and Honors (URELAH), shared her insights on the All Access License program’s effectiveness and the importance of providing support and guidance every step of the way.
Being able to offer resources such as Kaplan’s All Access License is especially important at DSU as they look to support their first-generation college students. Describing the critical role of mentorship and guidance in navigating the often-daunting path to new careers, Dr. Poe offers, “If you’ve never heard, ‘You can become a doctor’ then how do you do that if no one is around to explain that process? This is where it’s so important to attend college where we will teach and prepare you and show you it is possible. We’ll give you hope to say, ‘I can become a medical physician. I can become an attorney. But I need the tools to know how to get there.’”
"Kaplan's dynamic courses help DSU students transition from the 'bubble' of academia to the real world. They gain the skills and confidence to succeed on exams and thrive in top medical and law schools alongside the best students nationwide and globally."
—Dr. Shonda Poe, Executive Director, Delaware State University
Dr. Poe, Executive Director for the Office of Undergraduate Research, Experiential Learning, and Honors (URELAH) at Delaware State University, shares an inside look at what students, faculty, and staff are saying about Kaplan’s All Access License.
The true measure of our success is the voice of the students and partners we serve. Hear more perspectives directly from them as they share how Kaplan’s All Access License has impacted their students and their institution.
Videos Worth Watching
5 Videos
During a webinar panel on “Expanding Access: Illinois’ Groundbreaking Initiative for Student Success”, David Sanders, President of Malcolm X College, shared his initial reaction to knowing that free test prep would be available to all students.
The past year was defined by unprecedented growth and systemic impact. Ultimately, 2025 reinforced the core mission of the All Access License: to ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of a student's success, whether they are pursuing law school, medical school, professional licensure, or any other career goal.
Turning to 2026, our commitment to advancing student opportunity is stronger than ever. We look forward to further expanding our partnerships, innovating our offerings, and most importantly, continuing to empower students to achieve their academic and professional dreams.
With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Kim Canning is passionate about enhancing student success and access to education. Kim has a deep understanding of the challenges facing higher education today and leverages this expertise to drive solutions that respond to the needs of students and institutions alike.
In her current role as the vice president of university partnerships at Kaplan, Kim leads a dynamic team focused on collaborating with colleges and universities to enhance academic support resources at an institutional level. Kim’s leadership in spearheading Kaplan’s All Access License initiative has garnered several EdTech industry awards. Connect with Kim at allaccess@kaplan.edu or on LinkedIn.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the individual and not necessarily those of Kaplan or their institution. Student experiences may vary.
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