More than Dollars for Scholars: The Impact of the Dell Scholars Program on College Access, Persistence and Degree Attainment

75 Pages Posted: 3 Feb 2016 Last revised: 10 Oct 2017

See all articles by Lindsay C. Page

Lindsay C. Page

University of Pittsburgh School of Education

Stacy Kehoe

Education Northwest

Benjamin Castleman

University of Virginia

Gumilang Aryo Sahadewo

Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Date Written: October 9, 2017

Abstract

Socioeconomic inequalities in college completion have widened over time. A critical question is how to support low-income and first-generation students to achieve college success. We investigate one effort, the Dell Scholars Program, which provides a combination of financial support and individualized advising to selected students who attend institutions throughout the US. Using two quasi-experimental analytic strategies, regression discontinuity and difference-in-differences with a matched comparison sample, we find consistent evidence that being selected as a Dell Scholar leads to substantially higher rates of bachelor’s degree completion within six years as well improvements on multiple other measures of college success.

Keywords: college completion, low-income students, scholarship, college advising

JEL Classification: I21

Suggested Citation

Page, Lindsay C. and Kehoe, Stacy and Castleman, Benjamin and Sahadewo, Gumilang Aryo, More than Dollars for Scholars: The Impact of the Dell Scholars Program on College Access, Persistence and Degree Attainment (October 9, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2726320 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2726320

Lindsay C. Page (Contact Author)

University of Pittsburgh School of Education ( email )

135 N Bellefield Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
United States
412-648-7166 (Phone)

Stacy Kehoe

Education Northwest

101 SW Main Street #500
Portland, OR 97204
United States

Benjamin Castleman

University of Virginia ( email )

1400 University Ave
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States

Gumilang Aryo Sahadewo

Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada ( email )

Jalan Humaniora 1
Bulaksumur
Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55281
Indonesia
62274548510 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://sahadewo.wordpress.com

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