Bridge of Promise: Comparing the Academic Outcomes of Kalamazoo Promise to Public School Students in a 4-Year Institution

66 Pages Posted: 17 Dec 2018 Last revised: 24 Nov 2021

See all articles by Daniel Collier

Daniel Collier

University of Memphis

Daniel Fitzpatrick

Monash University

Derek Houston

University of Oklahoma

Date Written: November 25, 2018

Abstract

*Please visit the published submission at - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1521025120942892

This quantitative study compares Kalamazoo Promise (KPromise) students to non-Promise, public high school graduating students at the 4-year institution at which the largest number of KPromise students have enrolled and graduated. The sample was generated from 2009-12 Fall cohorts. To add depth and proxies for financial and academic advantages, we joined institutional longitudinal administrative data with high school and permanent residency characteristics. The final sample for this study was N=9,969; n=310 (3%) were KPromise students. Descriptive analysis suggests that KPromise students are racially more diverse and less affluent than non-Promise students. Unweighted regressions in which the differences between KPromise and other students are insufficiently account for show that being a KPromise student was correlated with lower College GPA (β=-0.10), increased chance of Academic Dismissal (OR=1.43), and lowered likelihood of Degree Attainment (OR=0.68). Correlations were not found with Academic Warning or Probation. Weighting the sample using Inverse Probability Weighing with Regression Adjustment (IPWRA), being KPromise was not significantly correlated to any of the outcomes examined. Indicating that KPromise students accessing the site institution are unique; after arrival, they perform similarly in some respects to reasonably-comparable students from other public schools. Discussion centers on how findings expand current knowledge regarding KPromise and counters recent narratives regarding tuition-free programs.

Keywords: #FreeCollege, Kalamazoo Promise, College Outcomes, Inverse Probability Weighting with Regression Adjustment (IPWRA), Degree Attainment

Suggested Citation

Collier, Daniel and Fitzpatrick, Daniel and Houston, Derek, Bridge of Promise: Comparing the Academic Outcomes of Kalamazoo Promise to Public School Students in a 4-Year Institution (November 25, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3290183 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3290183

Daniel Collier (Contact Author)

University of Memphis ( email )

Memphis, TN 38152
Memphis, TN usa 38152-3370
United States

Daniel Fitzpatrick

Monash University ( email )

PO Box 12
Monash University
Melbourne, VIC 3800
Australia

HOME PAGE: http://monash.edu/research/explore/en/persons/daniel-fitzpatrick(86565487-d7d0-4241-be10-4749dc67fd7

Derek Houston

University of Oklahoma ( email )

307 W Brooks
Norman, OK 73019
United States

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