Researchers increasingly have access to two types of data: (i) large observational datasets where treatment (e.g., class size) is not randomized but several primary outcomes (e.g., graduation rates) and secondary outcomes (e.g., test scores) are observed and (ii) experimental data in which treatment is randomized but only secondary outcomes are…

Many students who enter college do not finish, reflecting numerous academic, financial, and social barriers to postsecondary completion. Success Boston Coaching (SBC) provides students in the Greater Boston area with coaching during their first 2 years of college to help them overcome barriers to postsecondary completion and connect them to…

This study examines the influence of Black faculty representation on the graduation rates of Black students, with a particular focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Although HBCUs are only a small fraction of U.S. higher education institutions, they play an outsized role in the academic and economic success of Black…

People's quality of life and opportunities for activity are influenced by their surrounding environments. A substantial body of literature on the positive effects of nature and greenery has emerged during the last 50 years. Additional research has focused on other types of environmental qualities. While some Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs)…

This study explores the association between having a transit stop within walking distance of campus and Pell Grant recipient completion rates at US commuter institutions, using a novel dataset on transit stop locations and institutional level data. The findings indicate that there is a positive association between transit access and Pell…

Obtaining a degree from a community college is a strong pathway to numerous career opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. Unfortunately, graduation rates from community colleges are often very low, so many students do not reap the benefits of a degree. With the goal of increasing graduation rates, three community colleges in…

The observed decline in academic performance among 15-year-old students, as reported by recent OECD-PISA surveys, alongside the democratisation of university admissions, points to a potential decrease in the marginal academic proficiency of incoming higher education students. Paradoxically, grades at the tertiary level have either remained stable…

California defines college and career readiness broadly. Almost four in five students are not academically prepared for college success. Trends in college preparatory course-taking show promise. Strong high school graduation rates may not reflect college readiness. Demand for college is high but preparing students requires collaboration. This fact…

Curricular design in higher education significantly impacts student success and institutional performance. However, academic programs' complexity--shaped by pass rates, prerequisite dependencies, and course repeat policies--creates challenges for administrators. This paper presents a method for modeling curricular pathways including development of…

This policy brief examines whether Maryland faces an enrollment cliff in higher education by analyzing high school graduation projections and historical college enrollment data.

The Higher Education in Prison (HEP) Act, enacted on January 1, 2024, requires higher education public institutions to collect and report annually specified demographics and select outcomes and correctional facility to the ICCB for students in higher education in prison (HEP) programs. The intent of the reporting requirements is to provide…

This study utilized a retrospective, population-based cohort of administrative records of 167,319 children who attended school in British Columbia, Canada. The outcomes of standardized English, math, and science exam scores, as well as high school graduation were examined. The associations between poverty and educational outcomes at high school…

In 2015, the City University of New York (CUNY) launched a new program-- Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE)--aimed at improving college graduation rates. A prior randomized-control evaluation of the program found a nearly 12 percentage point increase in graduation five years after college entry. Using this impact estimate and national data on…

Objective: Policymakers in many states are endeavoring to increase graduation rates among older community college students. However, we know little about how the factors that influence college completion among older students differ from their younger peers. We aim to identify features of institutional contexts in which adult community college…

Despite evidence that informational interventions can influence K-12 school choices, we know little about the mechanisms through which they work and the factors that produce heterogeneity in student responses. Through a school-level randomized controlled trial conducted in 473 New York City middle schools serving 115,000 eighth graders, we…