Chicago STAR Scholarship — Dual Enrollment
City Colleges of Chicago / University of Chicago · Chicago, IL, USA · 2016
Summary
The Chicago STAR experiment tested whether a college promise — information about guaranteed tuition-free access combined with advising — could move the needle on college enrollment among Chicago public school students. The design is important: the scholarship was already available; the experiment tested whether proactive outreach and clear communication about an existing benefit changed behavior. It did. The effects were modest in absolute terms but meaningful in context, and largest among the first-generation students who most needed to know the offer existed. The finding reinforces a broader pattern: many low-income students do not access programs they qualify for because the programs are poorly communicated, not because they are unwanted.
Research question
"Does a tuition-free community college promise program increase college enrollment and attainment for high school juniors?"
Methodology
Intervention
High school juniors in Chicago Public Schools randomly selected to receive information about Star Scholarship (free tuition at City Colleges for eligible students maintaining 3.0 GPA) plus advising outreach; control received standard guidance
Assignment
Randomized controlled trial (student-level)
Sample size
10,200 students across 78 Chicago high schools
Primary outcome
College enrollment; FAFSA completion; college persistence
Effect estimate
FAFSA completion: +5.4 pp; City Colleges enrollment: +3.2 pp; college persistence to year 2: +4.1 pp; effects largest for first-generation students
Decision
City Colleges expanded Star Scholarship and added proactive advising component; NORC follow-up study replicated findings; Tennessee Promise and Oregon Promise modeled on similar design
Result
Positive
FAFSA completion: +5.4 pp; City Colleges enrollment: +3.2 pp; college persistence to year 2: +4.1 pp; effects largest for first-generation students
Evidence strength
Strong
Randomized controlled trial with large sample.
Replication status
Partially replicated
Institution
City Colleges of Chicago / University of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
Year
2016
Policy area
Education
Mechanism
Human capital