Investing in College Readiness: Societal Benefits and Costs of the El Dorado College Promise Program

• In Event: Financial Aid

Abstract

A growing volume of research shows college promise programs increase the likelihood that students enroll in and complete college. Place-based promise programs provide a guaranteed college scholarship for students who attend a specified school district. We examine the societal benefits and costs of a place-based scholarship program in rural Arkansas, the El Dorado Promise. Our cost framework treats tuition payments as a cash transfer that shifts the cost burden of higher education, rather than causing new societal costs. Findings show the program provides societal benefits equal to $4.60 for each dollar invested. Our Monte Carlo simulations show that the program produces benefits to society that exceed costs in 91 percent of scenarios, providing a high likelihood of positive returns.

Link to our full manuscript: https://edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1161

Author

• Lu Xu, University of Washington
  Presenting Author