← Search

Journal of Labor Economics Vol. 32 No. 3 2014

Paying for Performance: The Education Impacts of a Community College Scholarship Program for Low-Income Adults

Lisa Barrow1; Lashawn Richburg-Hayes2; Cecilia Elena Rouse3,4; Thomas Brock5

1 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago · 2 Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation · 3 Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars · 4 Princeton University · 5 Institute of Education Sciences

Abstract

We evaluate the effect of performance-based incentive programs on educational outcomes for community college students from a random assignment experiment at three campuses. Incentive payments over 2 semesters were tied to meeting two conditions—enrolling at least half-time and maintaining a C or better grade point average. Eligibility increased the likelihood of enrolling in the second semester after random assignment and total number of credits earned. Over 2 years, program group students completed nearly 40% more credits. We find little evidence that program eligibility changed types of courses taken but some evidence of increased academic performance and effort.

DOI
10.1086/675229
Volume
32
Issue
3
Pages
563-599
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

Cite