Can Free Community College Close Racial Disparities in Postsecondary Attainment? How Tulsa Achieves Affects Racially Minoritized Student Outcomes. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bell, Elizabeth; Gándara, Denisa
• Is Part Of: American educational research journal. Volume 58:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 1142
• Page End: 1177
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: community colleges -- free college -- higher education -- racial equity -- transfer; Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; 370.97305
• DOI: 10.3102/00028312211003501
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8312

Abstract

Promise programs, or place-based tuition-free college policies, have become increasingly popular among policymakers looking to expand postsecondary attainment. In this article, we examine Tulsa Achieves, a widespread, albeit understudied type of promise program that covers the balance of students' tuition and fees after other aid is exhausted at a single community college. Utilizing a difference-in-differences and event-study design, we investigate the role Tulsa Achieves eligibility plays in promoting or hindering vertical transfer and bachelor's degree attainment across racial/ethnic groups. We find that Tulsa Achieves eligibility is associated with increases in bachelor's degree attainment within 5 years among Native American and Hispanic students and an increased likelihood of transfer within 4 years for Hispanic students.