August 13, 2026
As students head to college this fall, a new class of Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates will begin their postsecondary journeys with support from the Kalamazoo Promise.
They join a story now 20 years in the making.
Since the Promise launched, more than 9,000 scholars have enrolled in postsecondary education. Upjohn Institute Project Principal for the Policies for Place Initiative Kathleen Bolter summarizes several studies that find that the scholarship increased the likelihood of enrolling in college and earning a postsecondary credential, while other studies have documented changes in adult outcomes and the broader Kalamazoo community.
Over two decades, the body of research on the Kalamazoo Promise has grown alongside the program itself. What began as a tuition scholarship has become part of a broader network of supports designed to help students enroll, persist, complete credentials, and move into careers.
The infographic below highlights selected findings from 20 years of research on the impacts of the Kalamazoo Promise. The full report, 20 Years of the Kalamazoo Promise: A Visual Guide to Selected Highlights, presents 20 findings across college access, postsecondary completion, adult outcomes, and community change.
Experts
