PromiseNet 2025 in Kalamazoo celebrates 20 years of tuition-free college innovation
Researchers from the Upjohn Institute will join education and community leaders from across the country at PromiseNet 2025, the premier national gathering of the tuition-free college movement. The conference takes place Nov. 9–11, 2025, in Kalamazoo, Michigan — the birthplace of the Kalamazoo Promise.
This year marks a milestone: 20 years since the Kalamazoo Promise sparked a nationwide movement. The conference theme, “Celebrating 20 Years of Impact, Innovation, and Inclusion,” honors two decades of progress and looks ahead to the future of place-based scholarship programs that are transforming lives and communities.
From a single bold idea in 2005 to hundreds of Promise programs now operating across the U.S., the movement has reshaped local economies, boosted educational attainment, and inspired a new vision of opportunity.
Upjohn Institute staff are instrumental in organizing the conference, which is the 12th national convening. The event will feature interactive workshops, policy deep dives, and sessions on student success, workforce development, and community revitalization. Attendees will connect with pioneering leaders and explore the next chapter of Promise innovation.
The conference will coincide with a 20th anniversary gala celebrating the Kalamazoo Promise and the community that started it all.
“PromiseNet brings together some of the nation’s most innovative leaders in education, community development, and philanthropy,” said Upjohn Institute Senior Researcher Michelle Miller-Adams. “We are proud to be part of this important movement.”
The Policies for Place initiative at the Upjohn Institute plays a leading role in advancing understanding of place-based, or “Promise,” scholarship programs carried out by cities, states, and community colleges to broaden access to higher education by making it more affordable — in many cases, tuition-free.
For more details, visit PromistNet.net or contact communications@upjohn.org