Lawmakers and public-policy advocates are increasingly looking to raise attainment at public colleges and universities through high-profile “free college” efforts, such as one proposed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, that cover basic costs for students attending state institutions.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate of School of Education has created an interactive map that highlights programs “designed to increase college attainment in particular places.” The researchers called them College Promise programs and included notable ones like the Tennessee Promise, which guarantees two years of free community college.
The programs and their scope vary from providing the full cost of tuition to matching scholarships that cover whatever costs remain unmet after other funding sources are tapped. Many programs are specifically for community colleges, while others include four-year public colleges.Return to Top