The Design of Promises: The Structure of Local College Affordability Programs in the United States. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1294
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| Title: | The Design of Promises: The Structure of Local College Affordability Programs in the United States. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1294 |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | David B. Monaghan, Alice Armstrong, Elizabeth Hawke, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University |
| Source: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2025. |
| Availability: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 40 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Paying for College, Colleges, College Programs, Ability, Eligibility, Program Design |
| Abstract: | We analyze 314 local college affordability programs (i.e., "Promise" or "free college" programs) using a novel dataset detailing, for each program, rules stipulating what programs provide (provision), where they may be used (applicability), and who may use them (eligibility). We perform three sets of analyses. First, we ask whether programs can be cogently described as involving greater or lesser provision (i.e., "generosity"), broader/narrower applicability, and more/less universal eligibility by examining the internal consistency of these sets of program rules. That is, are provision, applicability, and eligibility better thought of as coherent dimensions according to which programs vary, or just buckets of conceptually related rules? Second, we inquire into whether program design is strongly imitative by examining the relationship between program similarity and both temporal and geographic proximity. Finally, we perform a data-driven inquiry through cluster analysis. We discover that program structure is most strongly influenced by the level(s) of colleges at which programs may be used: only community colleges, only public four-year colleges, or both community colleges and public four-year colleges. We provide an interpretation of why this may be the case. We thereby contribute robustly to the slight but growing literature on how college affordability programs are designed. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED678280 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED678280 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: ED678280 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Report PubTypeId: report PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The Design of Promises: The Structure of Local College Affordability Programs in the United States. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1294 – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+B%2E+Monaghan%22">David B. Monaghan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alice+Armstrong%22">Alice Armstrong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Hawke%22">Elizabeth Hawke</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22">Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22"><i>Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</i></searchLink>. 2025. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/ – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: N – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 40 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paying+for+College%22">Paying for College</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colleges%22">Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Programs%22">College Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ability%22">Ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Eligibility%22">Eligibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Design%22">Program Design</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: We analyze 314 local college affordability programs (i.e., "Promise" or "free college" programs) using a novel dataset detailing, for each program, rules stipulating what programs provide (provision), where they may be used (applicability), and who may use them (eligibility). We perform three sets of analyses. First, we ask whether programs can be cogently described as involving greater or lesser provision (i.e., "generosity"), broader/narrower applicability, and more/less universal eligibility by examining the internal consistency of these sets of program rules. That is, are provision, applicability, and eligibility better thought of as coherent dimensions according to which programs vary, or just buckets of conceptually related rules? Second, we inquire into whether program design is strongly imitative by examining the relationship between program similarity and both temporal and geographic proximity. Finally, we perform a data-driven inquiry through cluster analysis. We discover that program structure is most strongly influenced by the level(s) of colleges at which programs may be used: only community colleges, only public four-year colleges, or both community colleges and public four-year colleges. We provide an interpretation of why this may be the case. We thereby contribute robustly to the slight but growing literature on how college affordability programs are designed. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: ED678280 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED678280 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 40 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Paying for College Type: general – SubjectFull: Colleges Type: general – SubjectFull: College Programs Type: general – SubjectFull: Ability Type: general – SubjectFull: Eligibility Type: general – SubjectFull: Program Design Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The Design of Promises: The Structure of Local College Affordability Programs in the United States. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1294 Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: David B. Monaghan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Alice Armstrong – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Elizabeth Hawke IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 09 Type: published Y: 2025 Titles: – TitleFull: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University Type: main |
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