Promise Programs Improve Educational Opportunity

College affordability is paramount to college access. Many students with the potential and desire to attain a postsecondary degree or credential balk at the price tag for a degree, unable to afford the cost of attendance or unaware of the resources that might help them to foot the bill. Even community college, long touted as a gateway to access to higher education for underrepresented students, particularly first-generation students, low-income students, and students of color because of a more affordable price tag than other postsecondary options, isn’t necessarily a feasible financial option for students in and of itself.

Proposals to fund tuition-free community college at the federal level have gained some traction in recent years, even being included in President Biden’s 2024 education budget, and some politicians have even proposed free four-year public college as well. However, given the politically fraught environment of higher education policy, no federal legislation for tuition-free two- or four-year college exists yet. To fill these access gaps in the meantime, various state and local policies and programs have been created to make postsecondary education more affordable (or even free) for students. These programs, called “promise programs,” illustrate the power of access to higher education and the ways in which institutions and communities are innovating to serve more students.

What is a Promise Program?

Promise programs are designed to make college more affordable for students by offering tuition-free college within a specific geographic area (state, city, or district-wide). The first promise program was created in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2005. Called The Kalamazoo Promise, the program allowed students who graduated from the Kalamazoo Public Schools and who met certain program requirements to receive up to 100% of tuition and fees covered at any Michigan public community college or university. Many private colleges, as well as trade apprenticeships and certification programs, now also participate in The Kalamazoo Promise, illustrating the broad population of students who can benefit from such programs.

Since the creation of The Kalamazoo Promise, the number of college promise programs has grown rapidly, totaling over 400 today. These programs vary significantly in size, scope, eligibility requirements, and the type of degree program offered. Many, though not all, programs will fund attendance at community colleges. Some are last-dollar grants (covering remaining expenses after other forms of aid are dispersed), while others are first-dollar grants (meaning they are awarded before other forms of scholarships/grants). What all of these programs share in common, however, are their place-based nature and a commitment to making college more affordable.

Many of these programs have support systems built in, so the support doesn’t end once the scholarship check is signed. Students in the Columbus Promise Program at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio, for example, have access to academic advisers, academic coaches, and career coaches who work specifically and directly with students in the program to provide individualized support.

What are the Impacts of Promise Programs?

Promise programs have significant financial benefits for students. One study found that the Tennessee Promise reduced the percentage of first-time, full-time students borrowing by 8-10%, an overall 40% decrease, and reduced the average loan amount taken by community college students by approximately 32%. Because most promise programs are last-dollar programs, they tend to benefit middle- and high-income students more, as the promise program scholarships are applied after other forms of financial aid, like the Pell Grant.

Studies also show that promise programs have an impact on the enrollment of students of color. One 2020 study suggested promise programs are associated with an increase in enrollment of Black and Hispanic students, and, particularly, Black and Hispanic women; first-time enrollment at two-year institutions with promise programs increased 47% for Black men, 51% for Black women, 40% for Hispanic men, and 52% for Hispanic women. The same study also indicated that promise programs with academic merit requirements tend to show an increase in enrollment of white, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women.

While the role of the government in covering the cost of postsecondary education remains contentious, promise programs represent an encouraging step taken by higher education institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations to make college more affordable for students. These programs are important agents of college access and will only continue to create educational opportunities for students as more promise programs come into existence. To learn more about promise programs that impact your institution, searchable databases of promise programs can be accessed via College Promise’s My Promise Tool, or the W.E. Upjohn Institute’s Promise Programs database.