We believe that every student has the right to higher education. Poverty, familial background, and access to resources should not preclude any student from accessing higher education. We work closely with our high school Dream Scholars to help them overcome adversities and to achieve the highest level of education in order to reach their dreams. Higher education includes technical colleges, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities. We believe in the power of education to inspire empathy. Through learning about and discussing issues of social inequality and access to education, undergraduate Dream Team mentors develop the communication skills necessary for open dialogue with others from different backgrounds. Through shared experiences and stories, we strive to create stronger relationships with our Dream Scholars knowing that we can learn from them as much as they can learn from us. We believe in providing vehicles for student leadership and engagement. College students become critical thinkers by developing creative solutions to complex problems. Students in the Dream Project run the day-to-day operations of the program and maintain relationships with donors and community partners. Students have real power to affect change in the organization and the greater community by holding various positions of leadership.

The mission of the Colorado State University Dream Project is to assist low-income and first-generation high school students in attaining higher education and to raise awareness among university students about the issues of educational opportunity and social mobility.