Performance-based scholarship program model for low-income college students

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q4 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

A financial aid intervention in which students are paid at multiple points during a semester if they earn a specified number of credits with a "C" or better grade, conditioning additional aid on meeting performance benchmarks. Students received between $500 and $1,300 per term (site-dependent) for two to four semesters, paid directly to students with complete discretion over use, in addition to Pell Grants and other aid. Eligibility is based on current-term performance, not prior performance like high school GPA. The model was evaluated in randomized controlled trials at eight institutions across six states.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Students must meet clear academic benchmarks, such as earning a certain number of credits with a C or better, to receive payments
• Payments are made in addition to existing aid such as Pell Grants

Constraints

• Scholarship amounts, duration, and benchmarks varied by state, and one site (New York) showed no significant first-year benchmark impact

Target Learners

• Low-income community college students
• Latino male students
• students in developmental math
• student parents

Learning Goals

• Academic progress measured by credits earned, benchmark attainment, persistence, and degree completion

Claims

• Pbs Increase Benchmark Meeting Except New York [+S]
• Pbs Increase First Year Credits Most Sites [+S]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Alexander Mayer, MDRC. (2014). Performance-Based Scholarships: Replication at Six Sites Using Randomized Controlled Trials. SREE Spring 2014 Conference Abstract. https://www.sree.org

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	performance-based-scholarship-program-model
title	Performance-based scholarship program model for low-income college students
description	A financial aid intervention in which students are paid at multiple points during a semester if they earn a specified number of credits with a "C" or better grade, conditioning additional aid on meeting performance be...
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-01
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — alexander-mayer-2014

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