Using comprehensive administrative data on France's single largest financial aid program, this paper provides new evidence on the impact of large-scale need-based grant programs on the college enrollment decisions, persistence, and graduation rates of low-income students. We exploit sharp discontinuities in the grant eligibility formula to identify the impact of aid on student outcomes at different levels of study. We find that the provision of 1,500 euros cash allowances to prospective undergraduate or graduate students increases their college enrollment rates by 5 to 7 percent. Moreover, we show that need-based grants have positive effects on student persistence and degree completion.
Improving College Access and Success for Low-Income Students: Evidence from a Large Need-Based Grant Program
Résumé
en
Using comprehensive administrative data on France's single largest financial aid program, this paper provides new evidence on the impact of large-scale need-based grant programs on the college enrollment decisions, persistence, and graduation rates of low-income students. We exploit sharp discontinuities in the grant eligibility formula to identify the impact of aid on student outcomes at different levels of study. We find that the provision of 1,500 euros cash allowances to prospective undergraduate or graduate students increases their college enrollment rates by 5 to 7 percent. Moreover, we show that need-based grants have positive effects on student persistence and degree completion.
Auteur(s)
Gabrielle Fack1, 2
, Julien Grenet3, 2
1
CES -
Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne
( 15080 )
- Maison des Sciences Économiques - 106-112 Boulevard de l'Hôpital - 75647 Paris Cedex 13
- France
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne UMR8174 ( 7550 )
;
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8174 ( 441569 )
2
PSE -
Paris School of Economics
( 301309 )
- 48 boulevard Jourdan 75014 Paris
- France
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne ( 7550 )
;
École normale supérieure - Paris ( 59704 )
;
Université Paris Sciences et Lettres ( 564132 )
;
École des hautes études en sciences sociales ( 99539 )
;
École des Ponts ParisTech ( 301545 )
;
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( 441569 )
;
Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement ( 577435 )
3
PSE -
Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques
( 139754 )
- 48 boulevard Jourdan 75014 Paris
- France
École normale supérieure - Paris ( 59704 )
;
Université Paris Sciences et Lettres ( 564132 )
;
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique USC1336 ( 92114 )
;
École des hautes études en sciences sociales ( 99539 )
;
École des Ponts ParisTech ( 301545 )
;
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8545 ( 441569 )
Public visé
Scientifique
Sous-type de document pour les Articles
Research article
Langue du document
Anglais
Nom de la revue
AEJ Applied -
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
(ISSN : 1945-7782)
Publié par American Economic Association
Revue non référencée dans Sherpa-Romeo
H - Public Economics/H.H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies/H.H5.H52 - Government Expenditures and Education
I - Health, Education, and Welfare/I.I2 - Education and Research Institutions/I.I2.I22 - Educational Finance • Financial Aid
I - Health, Education, and Welfare/I.I2 - Education and Research Institutions/I.I2.I28 - Government Policy
J - Labor and Demographic Economics/J.J2 - Demand and Supply of Labor/J.J2.J24 - Human Capital • Skills • Occupational Choice • Labor Productivity
Financement
Ce travail a bénéficié d'une aide de l'Etat gérée par l'Agence Nationale de la Recherche au titre du programme « Investissements d'avenir » portant la référence ANR-10-LABX-93-01.
This work was supported by the French National Research Agency, through the program Investissements d'Avenir, ANR-10--LABX_93-01
Gabrielle Fack, Julien Grenet. Improving College Access and Success for Low-Income Students: Evidence from a Large Need-Based Grant Program. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2015, 7 (2), pp.1-34. ⟨10.1257/app.20130423⟩. ⟨halshs-01155638⟩