ERIC Number: ED624156
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Aug
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Power of Certainty: Experimental Evidence on the Effective Design of Free Tuition Programs. Working Paper 29864
Burland, Elizabeth; Dynarski, Susan; Michelmore, Katherine; Owen, Stephanie; Raghuraman, Swetha
National Bureau of Economic Research
Proposed "free college" policies vary widely in design. The simplest set tuition to zero for everyone. More targeted approaches limit free tuition to those who demonstrate need through an application process. We experimentally test the effects of these two models on the schooling decisions of low-income students. An unconditional free tuition offer from a large public university substantially increases application and enrollment rates. A free tuition offer contingent on proof of need has a much smaller effect on application and none on enrollment. These results are consistent with students placing a high value on financial certainty when making schooling decisions.
Descriptors: Tuition, Paying for College, Access to Education, Models, Low Income Students, Student Financial Aid, School Choice, College Applicants, College Enrollment, Public Colleges
National Bureau of Economic Research. 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-5398. Tel: 617-588-0343; Web site: http://www.nber.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED); Smith Richardson Foundation
Authoring Institution: National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305B1170015