Affording Degree Completion: An Experimental Study of Completion Grants at Accessible Public Universities

• DOI: 10.17016/feds.2023.047
• Publication Date: 2023-07-16T17:01:32Z
• Authors: Sara Goldrick-Rab; Christine Baker-S...; Travis T. York; Kallie Clark; Douglas Webber; Christel Perkins
• Keywords: Graduation (instrument); Equity; Public university

To improve college affordability and graduation rates, universities are increasingly allocating “completion grants” to students who nearing the finish line but facing financial challenges. Using an experimental design common program model across 11 broad-access public in ten states, we assessed impact of a completion grants averaging $1,200 distributed among more than 14,000 students. We find that, despite university expectations that most were near completion, only two-thirds eligible receive grant graduated within academic year. Receiving did not rate. However, nearly all (95%) three years or still working on their degrees. While intended enhance equity, do evidence they exerted positive impacts for marginalized groups as designed this study. Moreover, while there was some implementation variation universities, it lead differences impact.