Working Paper: NBER ID: w28046
Authors: Rachel Fulcher Dawson; Melissa S. Kearney; James X. Sullivan
Abstract: We describe the challenge of college non-completion in the U.S. and a variety of explanations for the high rate of non-completion. We then provide an overview of the implementation of and evidence from eight specific college completion interventions designed to increase college completion rates through a comprehensive set of services. The eight interventions that we review have all been implemented in the past decade and have been evaluated through randomized controlled trials (RCT). After we describe the eight featured programs and the evidence on their effectiveness, we discuss the potential to replicate these programs and deliver them at scale. Finally, we offer some recommendations for future research, with the goal of establishing a body of practical evidence for organizations and policymakers to learn from as they work to address the college completion crisis.
Keywords: college completion; higher education; student success; randomized controlled trials; interventions
JEL Codes: I23; I26; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| comprehensive support services (L84) | college completion rates (I23) |
| Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) (I23) | degree completion rates (Y40) |
| Stay the Course program (I28) | college completion rates (I23) |
| Inside Track program (R48) | college completion rates (I23) |
| degree completion (Y40) | higher earnings (J31) |