Holistic Support Boosts Community College Outcomes

Community colleges are a primary gateway to higher education for first-generation and nontraditional students. But many face barriers to completion, ranging from navigating complex transfer pathways to experiencing basic needs insecurity, often while balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.

To help address those challenges, the One Million Degrees program provides holistic support to students at the City Colleges of Chicago, including student success coaching, financial support, academic advising and career development. Data shows that participants earn degrees at higher rates, secure stable employment and see stronger earnings outcomes than their peers not enrolled in the program.

New long-term results from an ongoing randomized, controlled trial conducted by the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab demonstrate that the model significantly improved degree completion and increased annual earnings by more than $14,000 on average seven years after enrollment for students who applied while still in high school.

Read the full story in Inside Higher Ed