MDRC reported RCT results for ASAP Ohio, which provides academic, personal, and financial support to low-income community college students. Quick take: High-quality RCT with blockbuster results - 15% point gain in college graduation and 11% gain in earnings at the 6-year mark.
Program:
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ASAP, originally developed by the City University of New York (CUNY), provides academic, personal and financial supports to low-income students to help them earn an associate's degree within 3 years. The program cost in Ohio totals about $9800/student over 3 years (in 2023 dollars).
Study Design:
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The RCT sample comprised 1,501 low-income students across 3 Ohio community colleges (64% female, 35% Black, 34% first in family to attend college). Based on careful review, this was a high-quality RCT (e.g., baseline balance, negligible attrition, prespecified primary outcomes).
Findings:
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6 years after study entry: (i) a 15% point increase in completion of a 2-year or 4-year college degree (44% treatment vs 29% control); (ii) an 11% ($1,948) gain in annual earnings in year six ($19,573 treatment vs $17,626 control). Both findings were statistically significant.
Comment:
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The Ohio RCT findings reproduce the large graduation impact (11% points) found in an earlier RCT at CUNY. Together, the results are of great policy significance: ASAP is a proven, replicated tool that colleges nationwide can use to increase graduation of low-income students.
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It's hard to overstate how exceptional these results are. Most high-quality RCTs, in higher ed and other areas, show disappointing results. A finding like this is cause for celebration.
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Disclosure: Arnold Ventures, my former employer, funded the ASAP Ohio long-term follow-up.