A new chapter in student financial education is taking shape as Robinhood Markets, Inc. launches Robinhood Money Drills with three additional partner universities. Florida State University, Coastal Carolina University, and the University of California, Berkeley will begin offering dedicated financial education coursework and a speaker series under the four-year program, funded and supported by Robinhood Money Drills. The initiative is designed to reach students and student athletes, equipping them with practical financial knowledge early in their academic journeys and continuing throughout and after their athletic careers. The rollout comes at a time when financial literacy is increasingly recognized as essential for personal and professional success, particularly for athletes navigating the evolving landscape of college sports and Name, Image and Likeness policies. The program adds to Robinhood’s growing education-focused commitments and forms part of a broader portfolio of initiatives aimed at expanding access to financial education across the higher education ecosystem.
Overview and Rationale Behind the Robinhood Money Drills Initiative
Robinhood Money Drills represents a strategic, multi-year investment in financial literacy within higher education. The program is structured as a four-year educational initiative designed to provide sustained funding for essential components of financial education, including structured coursework and a robust speaker series. The emphasis on a four-year horizon underscores the belief that financial literacy is not a one-off workshop but a development trajectory that accompanies students through critical life stages. At its core, Money Drills seeks to empower students and student-athletes with foundational financial skills, practical budgeting tools, investment literacy, debt management strategies, and deliberate planning for the long term. This approach aligns with Robinhood’s broader mission to democratize access to financial knowledge and to ensure that young people enter adulthood with a solid understanding of money management and financial decision-making.
The rationale for the program is grounded in historical patterns observed among athletes, who have faced disproportionately high rates of financial distress. For example, data associated with professional basketball players have highlighted that a substantial share experience bankruptcy or ongoing financial distress within a relatively short window after retirement. In this context, a proactive program that delivers education early—before, during, and after the athletic career—addresses a critical gap. Money Drills emphasizes preparation for a sound financial future across all stages of an athlete’s life, from college days through post-career life. By focusing on fundamental financial education, Robinhood aims to reduce the risk of financial missteps that can arise during and after college, when earnings may fluctuate and career transitions are common. The program’s design reflects a holistic view of financial literacy as a core life skill with tangible implications for personal stability, philanthropy, and long-term wealth-building.
The program’s four-year structure is complemented by a practical emphasis on access to resources and education. In explaining the program’s mission, Robinhood’s leadership has underscored a desire to open doors to educational resources and help students begin their financial journey on solid footing. The company has explicitly framed Money Drills as a pathway to broaden access to financial education for more students across partner campuses. This access-oriented stance is intended to create scalable, campus-specific experiences that can be integrated into existing curricula and activity schedules, signaling a flexible model that universities can adapt to their unique contexts while maintaining core content and outcomes. In short, the Money Drills initiative is designed to deliver sustained value through curricular integration, experiential learning opportunities, and ongoing engagement with financial literacy topics that matter to today’s students.
The leadership statements surrounding Money Drills emphasize the collaboration between Robinhood and the partner universities as a shared commitment to student empowerment. Mary Elizabeth Taylor, a senior executive at Robinhood, highlighted the program’s intent to help open doors to resources and education for college students at an earlier stage in their financial journey. Her remarks reflected pride in the collaboration with Florida State University, Coastal Carolina University, and the University of California, Berkeley and a broader ambition to expand access to financial education to an even larger student body. The emphasis on accessibility and early intervention aligns with best practices in financial education, which suggest that early exposure to money management concepts can yield lasting behavioral changes and improved financial outcomes.
Within the academic community, the partnership is framed as a convergence of educational goals with corporate support for student development. Dr. Joe Calhoun, Director of the Gus A. Stavros Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Economic Education at Florida State University, described Money Drills as sharing a common objective with the Stavros Center: to educate and empower students, particularly student-athletes, to better manage their financial futures. The collaboration is presented as a strategic opportunity to enrich the educational experiences of FSU students by providing new pathways to acquire practical skills that support lifelong financial stability. This partnership is positioned as a vehicle for expanding opportunities that enable students to develop competencies that extend beyond the classroom, ultimately enriching their personal and professional lives.
The program’s alignment with NIL-era realities is further emphasized by Coastal Carolina University’s leadership. Matt Hogue, the Athletics Director at Coastal Carolina University, noted that financial literacy has grown more critical for collegiate athletes with the advent of Name Image and Likeness (NIL) policies. He expressed appreciation for Robinhood Money Drills joining the curriculum as an asset that can advance the fiscal knowledge and understanding of student-athletes. This articulation recognizes the practical demand for robust financial education in a landscape where athletes may have new revenue streams and fiscal responsibilities within their college years, thereby reinforcing the relevance and timeliness of Money Drills as a structured educational intervention.
UC Berkeley’s leadership contribution, articulated by Stephen Etter, a continuing lecturer at Berkeley Haas who teaches Financial & Business Literacy for the Professional Athlete, adds another dimension to the program’s philosophy. Etter explained that the partnership extends a philosophy he has taught for more than two decades: understanding agency within professional sports, exercising prudent stewardship of earnings, and engaging in active philanthropy within communities. He highlighted the importance of continuing to help athletes comprehend their finances, given the significant incomes many are earning during college through NIL. The collaboration with Money Drills will enable him to expand his course offerings and make the program accessible to a large portion of UC Berkeley’s student-athlete population. This emphasis on agency, stewardship, and community impact reflects a broader educational strategy that values both personal finance literacy and civic responsibility.
The rollout schedule for Money Drills is designed to align with academic calendars and campus activities. The program will begin in the current semester at Florida State University and Coastal Carolina University, with the University of California, Berkeley slated to start the program in the summer. This phased approach allows each campus to integrate the coursework and speaker series into its academic rhythm while enabling early momentum for students and student-athletes to participate in kickoff events and related programming. The staged rollout also provides an opportunity to refine the program based on campus feedback and early experiences, ensuring that the educational components are responsive to student needs and campus cultures. Moreover, these launches are set against the backdrop of an expanding network of eight partner schools that already includes Texas Christian University, University of Memphis, Kansas State University, West Virginia University, and Duke University. The continued growth signals a broader commitment to democratizing access to financial literacy across diverse student populations and athletic programs nationwide, reinforcing Robinhood’s intent to scale such educational initiatives to reach a wide audience of learners.
This expansion to three new universities represents a deliberate intensification of Robinhood’s educational efforts in the higher education sector. It also signals a recognition that financial literacy is a universal need for students, not just a subset of the population. By embedding Money Drills within university ecosystems, Robinhood aims to leverage campus resources—faculty expertise, classroom spaces, student organizations, and athletic departments—to deliver comprehensive education that is accessible, relevant, and impactful. The program’s four-year design, combined with targeted funding for courses and speaker series, positions Money Drills as a sustainable model for campus-based financial education that can be adapted and replicated across different institutions. The ultimate objective is to build a durable foundation for financial literacy that transcends sports, benefiting a broad spectrum of students who seek to manage money wisely, invest responsibly, and plan for enduring financial well-being.
The narrative surrounding Money Drills underscores a broader commitment to education-as-empowerment. By connecting corporate support with academic institutions and athletic programs, the initiative aims to create a robust ecosystem in which financial education is not a peripheral add-on but a central, ongoing element of student life. The emphasis on collaboration with the Stavros Center at FSU and engagement with Berkeley Haas faculty signals a thoughtful blend of economics education, enterprise thinking, and practical financial literacy. As more universities participate, Money Drills could evolve to include additional components, such as hands-on workshops, mentorship programs, and career-readiness activities that complement the core curriculum. In this sense, Money Drills is envisioned not merely as a set of courses and lectures but as a comprehensive platform for cultivating financial knowledge, responsible decision-making, and long-term economic resilience among students and athletes alike.
Partner Universities and Program Rollout Timeline
Florida State University joins the program through collaboration with the Stavros Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Economic Education, a partnership that aligns Money Drills with a shared mission of educating and empowering students for financial independence. The Stavros Center has long focused on creating opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of economic concepts, free enterprise principles, and the practical application of financial knowledge in everyday life. The collaboration with Money Drills broadens the Center’s reach and extends its impact through an integrated curriculum, including courses and speaker events designed to be accessible to a wide student audience, including those involved in athletics. The Stavros Center’s leadership has expressed enthusiasm about expanding opportunities for FSU students to acquire skills that enrich their lives, support their personal development, and lay a strong foundation for financial success. This relationship is expected to yield a sequence of events and coursework that will be embedded in the campus’s academic and extracurricular offerings, ensuring long-term visibility and continuity for Money Drills.
Coastal Carolina University is also embracing Money Drills as part of its broader effort to empower student-athletes with practical financial knowledge. The Athletics Department’s leadership has highlighted the synergy between NIL-driven earnings opportunities and the need for disciplined financial management. The addition of Money Drills to Coastal Carolina’s educational ecosystem reflects a commitment to equipping student-athletes with the tools to manage increased financial responsibilities responsibly and ethically. By integrating coursework and speaker engagements into the university’s programs, Coastal Carolina University can help athletes develop habits that promote fiscal discipline, informed decision-making, and prudent stewardship of resources. The university’s leadership anticipates that Money Drills will serve as a valuable asset in the curriculum, enabling athletes to navigate the complexities of modern compensation structures while maintaining integrity and accountability in their personal financial practices.
The University of California, Berkeley will commence its Money Drills activities in the summer, a timeline that allows the campus to coordinate with Berkeley Haas faculty and other academic units to design and implement a robust suite of educational offerings. The program’s integration with the Haas School of Business, as well as the broader university environment, provides opportunities to leverage established resources and networks to maximize impact. Stephen Etter, who has been teaching the Financial & Business Literacy for the Professional Athlete course, will play a pivotal role in scaling the program at Berkeley. His leadership underscores the campus’s commitment to cultivating financial literacy across the student-athlete community, extending the reach of Money Drills beyond the classroom and into experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, and community engagement initiatives. Through this collaboration, UC Berkeley aims to create a model for financial education that can be adapted by other campuses while maintaining the emphasis on agency, responsible earnings management, and philanthropic involvement.
Together, these universities join a broader national network that includes Texas Christian University, the University of Memphis, Kansas State University, West Virginia University, and Duke University. The aggregate presence of these eight institutions signifies a substantial footprint for Money Drills in the U.S. higher education landscape. The collective experience of these campuses—spanning public and private institutions, large and mid-sized student populations, and diverse athletic programs—offers rich opportunities to tailor Money Drills to different campus cultures, academic programs, and student demographics. As the network expands, the program can draw on a breadth of case studies, best practices, and feedback to refine its approach, ensuring that its core objectives remain aligned with student needs and university goals. The ongoing growth also presents the possibility of cross-campus collaborations, joint events, and shared resources that amplify the reach and effectiveness of Money Drills while delivering cost efficiencies and synergy across the participating institutions.
The phased rollout strategy also accommodates ongoing assessment and iteration. By launching on multiple campuses in a staggered manner, Robinhood Money Drills can collect data on engagement, learning outcomes, and participant feedback, which can inform curriculum adjustments, scheduling, and resource allocation. The approach acknowledges the realities of campus life, including academic calendars, athletic schedules, and student availability, and seeks to deliver an optimized learning experience that minimizes disruption while maximizing educational value. As more campuses come online, the program could incorporate additional components, such as alumni speaker series featuring former student-athletes who have successfully navigated transitions into professional life, internships with financial services firms, and peer-mentoring networks that connect students with mentors who can guide them through money management challenges. The expansion also creates opportunities for campus partners to integrate Money Drills with existing financial literacy initiatives, student development programs, and career readiness services, thereby enriching the overall educational ecosystem and enhancing the long-term impact of the initiative.
From a broader perspective, the Money Drills rollout reflects a trend in higher education toward integrating practical skills training into degree programs and student experiences. Financial literacy is increasingly recognized as essential for students across disciplines, and partnerships with innovative industry players can accelerate the adoption of high-quality content, resources, and experiences. The collaboration with Robinhood brings together a private-sector partner with a strong emphasis on digital financial services and accessible education, coupled with universities that value experiential learning and student empowerment. This combination creates a dynamic framework for delivering accessible, relevant, and impactful financial education. The program’s emphasis on early exposure—beginning in the semester at FSU and Coastal Carolina and extending into the summer at Berkeley—ensures that students encounter these concepts at a formative stage when habits can be shaped most effectively. The ongoing expansion to eight campuses demonstrates a commitment to scale and adaptability, with the potential to influence other universities to adopt similar models that prioritize practical financial literacy as a core feature of higher education.
As Money Drills continues to grow, the collaboration will likely explore best practices for content delivery, including the use of interactive modules, case studies, simulations, and guest lectures from professionals across the financial services sector. The program’s structure—encompassing courses and a speaker series—lends itself to a mix of didactic instruction and experiential learning, a combination that aligns with modern educational research on effective skill acquisition. The emphasis on accessibility and inclusion ensures that financial education is not restricted to a subset of students but reaches a broad audience, including student-athletes who often face unique financial considerations and time constraints. The long-term vision for Money Drills is to help students develop financial literacy as a core competency—one that supports disciplined money management, informed risk-taking, and charitable engagement—ultimately contributing to healthier financial trajectories for individuals and communities alike.
This ongoing initiative also raises important questions for campus policy and governance. Universities will need to consider how Money Drills integrates with existing curricula, how credits are awarded, and how to evaluate outcomes. Equity and inclusion will be central considerations as the program scales, ensuring that resources are distributed fairly and that participation opportunities are available to students from diverse backgrounds and athletic programs. Partnerships with centers dedicated to economic education, like the Stavros Center, will be crucial in maintaining a rigorous academic framework while preserving the flexibility required to engage a broad student audience. By combining rigorous content with practical application and real-world insights from industry professionals, Money Drills can establish itself as a model for campus-based financial education that other universities might seek to emulate in the future. The result could be a more financially literate student body and a broader culture of responsible financial stewardship that benefits individuals, communities, and the educational ecosystem as a whole.
Program Components: Courses, Speaker Series, and Student Engagement
The core of Money Drills centers on two primary components: structured courses and a dynamic speaker series, both designed to deliver practical financial education and to foster ongoing engagement with money-management concepts. The courses are crafted to provide foundational knowledge in budgeting, savings, debt management, and personal finance, alongside more advanced topics that cover investing basics, risk assessment, and long-term financial planning. The speaker series complements the classroom experience by bringing in a diverse range of voices—industry professionals, former student-athletes, financial coaches, and academics—who can share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for success. This combination is intended to create a holistic learning environment that blends theory with application, enabling students to translate concepts learned in the classroom into actionable financial practices.
One of the fundamental aims of Money Drills is to empower students and student-athletes to begin shaping their financial futures at an early stage. The program recognizes that early exposure to money management principles can influence long-term behavior and outcomes. To this end, the courses are designed to be accessible and relevant to a wide audience, including those who may not have previously engaged deeply with financial topics. The speaker series is intended to broaden perspectives and to provide models of effective financial decision-making. The collaboration with the Stavros Center and Berkeley Haas adds academic depth and a focus on entrepreneurship, enterprise thinking, and professional athlete finance that complements the core curriculum. This approach helps ensure that students are not only informed about financial concepts but are also equipped to apply them in real-life scenarios, including budgeting for education, planning for post-graduate opportunities, and navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics and professional sports.
To facilitate engagement, Money Drills can incorporate a range of instructional strategies. Structured modules will likely include case studies that reflect typical financial journeys faced by students and athletes, such as budgeting for tuition and living expenses, planning for housing and travel expenses during the academic year, and managing income streams that may arise from NIL activities. Workshops and smaller group sessions can provide hands-on practice with tools and templates for personal finance management, including budget templates, debt repayment plans, and goal-setting frameworks. The speaker series can feature interactive Q&A sessions, debates on financial decision-making, and mentorship conversations that connect students with role models who have navigated similar challenges. The combination of coursework and speaker-driven experiences is designed to create a rich, multi-faceted learning environment that encourages ongoing participation and sustained knowledge retention.
Accessibility is a central consideration in Money Drills’ design. The program emphasizes that financial education should be available to all students, not just those who enroll in specialized programs or who have prior financial literacy training. By embedding courses within the broader campus curriculum and by offering a speaker series that can be attended by a wide audience, the program seeks to embed financial literacy into everyday student life. This approach also supports campus diversity and inclusion by ensuring that material is accessible across different majors, athletic tracks, and student backgrounds. The expectation is that a more financially literate student body will be better prepared to manage potential financial shocks, take advantage of opportunities, and contribute positively to their communities through informed philanthropic choices and prudent wealth-building strategies.
Within the UC Berkeley context, Etter’s work suggests a progressive model for integrating financial literacy with professional preparation. His emphasis on understanding agency in professional sports, prudent earnings stewardship, and active philanthropy points to a broader objective: to empower student-athletes to become not only well-informed money managers but also responsible actors in their communities. The course and related activities are designed to scale in ways that reflect the campus’s intellectual culture and its strengths in entrepreneurship and social impact. Berkeley’s model could include advanced topics such as venture finance literacy, social impact investing, and governance considerations for organizations led by athletes or influenced by athlete-driven philanthropy. The long-term aim is to cultivate a generation of student-athletes and non-athlete students who bring financial literacy into their professional lives and who contribute to positive community outcomes through responsible stewardship of earnings and thoughtful civic engagement.
The funding aspect of Money Drills is another critical component that underpins its vitality and scalability. The program provides resources to support the development and delivery of courses and the speaker series. This funding ensures that campuses can offer high-quality content, access to guest speakers, and robust educational experiences without placing undue financial burden on students or universities. By removing financial barriers to participation, Money Drills can promote broad engagement across diverse student populations, including first-generation college students, international students, and underrepresented groups who may face unique financial literacy challenges. The funding model thus supports inclusivity and ensures that the educational benefits of Money Drills reach a broad spectrum of learners, aligning with the overarching goal of expanding access to essential financial knowledge across the higher education landscape.
In addition to the core curriculum and speaker engagements, Money Drills is designed to be adaptable and iterative. Campuses can tailor the curriculum to reflect local needs, student demographics, and athletic program structures. The program can incorporate campus-specific partnerships with local financial institutions, alumni networks, and community organizations to augment the learning experience with internships, mentorship opportunities, and experiential activities. By enabling customization within a shared framework, Money Drills can sustain relevance over time while maintaining a consistent standard of quality and impact across participating institutions. The ability to adapt content to reflect the evolving financial landscape, including changes in NIL policies, tax considerations for student-athletes, and emerging fintech developments, will be essential to the program’s long-term success and continued relevance for students across different campuses.
A comprehensive evaluation framework will be important to monitor the effectiveness of Money Drills over time. The program will benefit from data-driven assessments that track engagement metrics, knowledge gains, and behavioral changes among participants. Quantitative indicators might include assessment scores on financial literacy concepts, the rate of attendance at courses and speaker events, and the adoption of personal finance tools and practices. Qualitative feedback from students, faculty, coaches, and staff can provide deeper insights into the practical applicability of the curriculum and the perceived value of the program. As the network of partner campuses grows, the data collected can inform ongoing refinement of curricular content, instructional methods, and resource allocation, ensuring that Money Drills remains responsive to student needs and delivers meaningful outcomes.
From a policy perspective, Money Drills offers a model for how higher education institutions can partner with private-sector entities to enhance student learning. The program highlights the potential for corporate sponsorship and collaboration to underpin university-driven educational initiatives, provided that the partnerships maintain rigorous academic standards, protect student interests, and prioritize the public good. The ongoing collaboration with the Stavros Center and Berkeley Haas demonstrates how academic stewardship and industry support can intersect to deliver high-impact education that is simultaneously rigorous and practical. As more campuses join the program, there may be opportunities for cross-campus research projects, joint conferences, and shared case studies that enhance the overall value proposition for students, educators, and the wider university community.
The Money Drills initiative thus represents a multidimensional effort to advance financial literacy in higher education, rooted in evidence about the needs of student-athletes and built on a framework that combines coursework, experiential learning, speaker engagement, and community partnerships. The program’s emphasis on early and sustained education, its alignment with NIL realities, and its collaboration with leading academic centers collectively signal a forward-looking approach to student development. Through careful implementation, ongoing evaluation, and strategic expansion, Money Drills aspires to become a durable and scalable model for campus-based financial education that can positively influence the financial trajectories of countless students and athletes across the country.
Expansion, Impact, and Industry Context
The expansion of Money Drills across new campuses reflects a broader trend toward embedding practical financial literacy into the core experiences of college life. By partnering with universities and leveraging the expertise of academic centers and industry leaders, the program seeks to create a standardized yet adaptable educational framework. This approach acknowledges that financial literacy is not a monolithic subject; it encompasses budgeting, saving, debt management, investing, risk assessment, retirement planning, tax implications, and ethical considerations around wealth creation and philanthropy. The program’s design aims to introduce these topics in a student-friendly manner while allowing room for campus-specific emphasis based on the needs and interests of students.
In the context of NIL-era college athletics, Money Drills addresses a timely and relevant concern. As student-athletes navigate opportunities to monetize their image and likeness, they face new financial decision-making responsibilities. Without robust financial literacy, even relatively high earnings can be mismanaged, potentially undermining long-term financial security. Money Drills seeks to equip student-athletes with essential skills to manage earnings prudently, diversify income sources, and plan for post-athletic careers. The program’s emphasis on agency and thoughtful stewardship aligns with the values of responsible citizenship and community engagement, reinforcing the idea that athletes can be catalysts for positive social impact beyond their sports careers.
From a university perspective, the Money Drills initiative can enhance student services and career preparedness, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to holistic education. Integrating financial literacy into the curriculum can complement existing programs in business, economics, and personal finance, while also engaging students in interdisciplinary learning that connects with psychology, sociology, and communications. The collaboration with the Stavros Center and Berkeley Haas adds intellectual depth to the program and fosters opportunities for cross-disciplinary dialogue about the economics of education, entrepreneurship, and the social responsibilities of wealth. For universities, the program represents a strategic investment in student success that can yield lasting benefits in terms of student satisfaction, retention, and long-term alumni engagement.
The strategic focus on accessibility and broad participation is also notable. By offering courses and a speaker series within campus ecosystems, Money Drills lowers barriers to participation and ensures that a diverse student body can engage with essential financial concepts. This inclusivity is critical for building a more financially literate generation that can navigate the complexities of modern economies, including digital finance, investment opportunities, and regulated markets. The program’s scalable design supports future expansion, potential partner institutions beyond the current eight campuses, and continual content updates to reflect evolving financial landscapes. The resulting ecosystem can serve as a model for other higher education initiatives that aim to combine academic rigor with practical skills development and real-world relevance.
As the program grows, it will be important to address practical considerations related to implementation and sustainability. The partnerships with private-sector entities, universities, and academic centers will require careful governance, transparent reporting, and ongoing alignment with educational objectives. Ensuring that the funding is responsibly managed and that the content remains academically rigorous will be central to maintaining the program’s credibility and impact. Furthermore, ongoing engagement with student communities, faculty, coaches, and alumni will be essential for sustaining momentum, capturing feedback, and ensuring that the programs resonate with evolving student needs and expectations. In this context, Money Drills has the potential to be more than a standalone initiative; it could become a recognized platform for ongoing financial education that integrates with campus life, enhances student outcomes, and contributes to broader educational and social goals.
Ultimately, the Money Drills initiative is a forward-looking effort to align corporate support, higher education, and student development around a critical life skill. By delivering a structured, four-year program that combines courses, speaker series, and practical engagement, the program aims to deliver meaningful, lasting improvements in financial literacy among students and student-athletes. The partnerships with Florida State University, Coastal Carolina University, and the University of California, Berkeley set a strong foundation for this effort, while the broader network of eight campuses demonstrates a commitment to scale and impact. As the program unfolds across the partner institutions, it will be important to monitor outcomes, refine offerings, and explore opportunities to extend the model to additional universities and communities. If successful, Money Drills could become a benchmark in campus-based financial education, illustrating how university resources, academic expertise, and corporate partnerships can come together to empower young people with the knowledge and tools they need to build financially secure futures.
The Road Ahead: Practical Implications and Long-Term Vision
Looking forward, Money Drills has the potential to influence not only individual student outcomes but also the broader ecosystem of higher education and athletic programs. By focusing on foundational financial literacy and coupling it with real-world applications through the speaker series, the program can foster a culture of proactive money management across campuses. This cultural shift could lead to improved decision-making attitudes, greater willingness to seek guidance on financial matters, and an increased sense of accountability among student-athletes and students alike. Over time, the program’s success could encourage other universities to adopt similar models, thereby expanding access to quality financial education across diverse student populations.
The emphasis on agency and philanthropy, particularly in the Berkeley context, could inspire student-athletes to consider how their earnings and platforms might be leveraged for social impact. By integrating financial literacy with community engagement and ethical considerations, Money Drills supports a holistic approach to personal and societal development. The program’s collaboration with academic centers and industry partners also creates opportunities for research and evaluation that can contribute to the broader understanding of financial education efficacy in higher education settings. These research and evaluation efforts could yield insights into how financial literacy interventions influence student outcomes, long-term wealth-building, and civic participation, thereby contributing to the evidence base that informs policy and practice in higher education.
From the student perspective, the practical benefits of Money Drills include improved budgeting capabilities, increased confidence in handling money, and better preparation for future financial responsibilities. For student-athletes, the program’s alignment with NIL realities means that educational content is directly relevant to their current experiences and future prospects. The speaker series can provide varied perspectives—from financial practitioners to former athletes—giving students a spectrum of viewpoints and strategies to consider as they navigate money management decisions. The funding attached to the program ensures that campuses can sustain ongoing activities, including the development of new course modules, the organization of timely speaker events, and the creation of supportive resources that students can access as needed. This combination of education, engagement, and resources contributes to a richer, more comprehensive learning experience that extends beyond traditional classroom boundaries.
In sum, the Robinhood Money Drills initiative marks a significant step in integrating financial literacy into the fabric of higher education and athletic programs. The program’s expansion to Florida State University, Coastal Carolina University, and the University of California, Berkeley, alongside the ongoing presence at eight other campuses, signals a durable commitment to equipping students and student-athletes with essential financial knowledge and practical tools. The collaboration with the Stavros Center and Berkeley Haas underscores the program’s dual emphasis on rigorous academic grounding and real-world relevance. As Money Drills continues to unfold across campuses, it will be important to monitor its impact, adapt to campus needs, and explore opportunities for further scaling and enhancement, with the shared aim of empowering students to navigate money matters with confidence, responsibility, and a sense of social purpose.
Conclusion
Robinhood Money Drills advances a targeted, long-term approach to financial literacy within higher education, expanding beyond its initial campuses to include Florida State University, Coastal Carolina University, and the University of California, Berkeley. By funding and integrating financial education coursework and a speaker series for students and student-athletes through a four-year program, the initiative seeks to address historically high levels of financial distress among athletes and the broader student population. The program’s rollout—beginning this semester at FSU and Coastal Carolina with Berkeley joining in the summer—reflects a deliberate, phased approach designed to maximize campus impact while allowing for iterative refinement. The leadership voices associated with Money Drills—Mary Elizabeth Taylor of Robinhood, Dr. Joe Calhoun of the Stavros Center, Matt Hogue of Coastal Carolina, and Stephen Etter of UC Berkeley—highlight a shared commitment to empowering students, advancing NIL-informed financial education, and promoting responsible stewardship of earnings and philanthropy.
The collaboration’s alignment with NIL realities and its integration into university ecosystems embody a forward-looking model for campus-based financial education. The program’s emphasis on accessibility, practical relevance, and scalable design stands to benefit a broad range of students and athletic programs as the network grows to eight campuses. As Money Drills matures, ongoing evaluation and adaptation will be essential to ensure that content remains current, effective, and inclusive. Should the initiative sustain its momentum, its impact could extend beyond immediate educational outcomes, influence campus policy, and contribute to a broader culture of financial literacy and responsible financial behavior among young people preparing to enter professional life. The long-term vision envisions a durable framework that empowers students to manage money wisely, make informed choices, and give back to their communities—anchored in a robust partnership model that blends corporate support, academic rigor, and practical learning.
