The Promise of Free College (and Its Potential Pitfalls): Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Performance-Based Aid Program

Douglas N. Harris, Raquel Farmer-Hinton, Debbie H. Kim, John B. Diamond, Tangela Blakely Reavis, Kelly Krupa Rifelj, Hilary A. Lustick, Bradley Carl

Click here to view and purchase Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs

This study examines one of the first randomized controlled trials of a program similar to many free college and promise scholarship proposals. The authors randomly selected students in Milwaukee and promised up to $12,000 for each student who met academic and other performance requirements, to pay for essentially any in-state college. The program had some impact on students’ motivation, college expectations, and steps toward college, but no effect on academic performance measures or whether students went directly on to college. Three factors undermined the program’s success: (a) the performance requirements greatly reduced the number of students who could receive funds; (b) the requirements, combined with the temporary, small-scale design of the program, meant that it did not have a catalyzing effect on high schools; and (c) the very low level of academic performance and lack of counselor resources in Milwaukee meant the program design was poorly matched to the context.