The Causal Effects of Federal Work-Study Offers on College Enrollment and Program Participation

Using administrative data tracking Federal Work Study (FWS) offers, enrollment, and participation from the date of application, this working paper studies the causal impacts of receiving an FWS offer at a large public college system, including both two- and four-year campuses.
Understanding the Needs of First-Generation College Students Who Stop Out

Based on survey and interview data from first-generation students who stopped out of four colleges in California, this brief examines students’ reasons for leaving, the role their social networks played in informing or supporting their decision, and how they thought about their futures—including the possibility of reenrollment.
Unlocking Opportunity: Eight Strategies for Community Colleges to Improve Post-Completion Outcomes

This practice guide builds on the work of colleges in the Unlocking Opportunity Network by offering practical strategies that can help more students graduate with credentials that lead directly to good jobs or transfer and successful attainment of a bachelor’s degree.
Selecting a Program of Study: How Certain Are Community College Students About Their Choice and Does It Change?

This report discusses the program choice process among 42 student interviewees; it describes factors that influenced their choice and how their choice often changed, and it offers recommendations to better support students in selecting a program.
Why Did They Leave? Learning From the Experiences of Former Community College Students

Based on survey findings from 480 former students who stopped out of community college before the start of their second year, this report sheds light on the experiences of this population and their reasons for leaving college.