Improving College Access and Degree Completion

The problem: College costs have risen sharply in recent decades, making it inaccessible for many. Even when students—particularly those from communities with fewer resources—gain access, they often do not get the support they need to complete their degrees.

Strategies for college: RAND investigates resources and flexibilities that could help students complete their degrees successfully. Projects have examined approaches that include:

• Alternative credentials and credit pathways: Short-term credentials are acting as an on-ramp to a degree for many students in community colleges. Low-income certificate-earners in Colorado and Ohio who earned multiple "stackable" credentials went on to earn longer-term credentials and experienced positive economic returns. RAND provided evidence and analytic support to help Ohio launch a statewide program that awards credit for prior learning such as industry credentials.
• Administrative and advising supports: Providing student basic needs, including financial aid and housing—and streamlining enrollment—helps more community college students enroll and progress toward a degree.
• Developmental education: For students who aren’t yet college-ready, early evidence suggests that “corequisites” can help by placing underprepared students directly into a college-level course and giving additional support. RAND researchers have investigated the implications of the corerequisite model in their report and how it changes students’ experiences.
• Graduate degree expansions: States such as Texas have explored programs’ alignment to industry needs, and work-based learning experiences.

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