Looking beyond Enrollment: The Causal Effect of Need-Based Grants on College Access, Persistence, and Graduation

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Castleman, Benjamin L.; Long, Bridget Terry
• 署名单位: University of Virginia; Harvard University; National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/686643
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 1023-1073
• 关键词: regression-discontinuity design; class-size; aid; completion; attendance

摘要

The government has attempted to ameliorate gaps in college access and success by providing need-based grants, but little evidence exists on the long-term impacts of such aid. We examine the effects of the Florida Student Access Grant (FSAG) using a regression-discontinuity strategy and exploiting the cut-off used to determine eligibility. We find that grant eligibility had a positive effect on attendance, particularly at public 4-year institutions. Moreover, FSAG increased the rate of credit accumulation and bachelor's degree completion within 6 years, with a 22% increase for students near the eligibility cut-off. The effects are robust to sensitivity analysis.