Promise Programs

The Upjohn Institute plays a leading role in research and evaluation of place-based scholarship programs locally and nationally.

This page brings together resources related to the growing population of place-based scholarship—or "promise"—programs, including the Kalamazoo Promise.

Latest Research Highlights

Promise Programs Are Getting the Job Done 

January 17, 2023 · Research Highlight

“Next Gen” Promise Programs 

December 15, 2022 · Research Highlight

New report: Bridging Research and Practice to Achieve Community Prosperity

November 14, 2022 · Research Highlight
View All Research Highlights

All Research

The Kalamazoo Promise “Sweet 16," Summary Study Results: 16 Key Findings from 16 Years Studying The Kalamazoo Promise

May 19, 2022 · Research

Job training programs as crime reduction strategy? How training people for good jobs can lead to fewer arrests.

April 14, 2022 · Research Highlight

Economic Costs and Benefits of Tuition-Free College in Illinois

October 29, 2021 · Research

Sometimes a Long and Winding Road: An Exploration of Kalamazoo Promise Stop Out and Reenrollment

October 27, 2021 · Research

Modeling First Year Stop Out of Kalamazoo Promise Scholars: Mapping Influences of Socioeconomic Advantage and Pre-College Performance to College Performance and Persistence

October 27, 2021 · Research

Returns from statewide tuition-free college: Modeling an Illinois Promise

August 25, 2021 · Research Highlight

The Effects of the Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship on College Enrollment and Completion

August 23, 2021 · Research

The Path to Free College: In Pursuit of Access, Equity, and Prosperity

August 18, 2021 · Research

A Moment of Opportunity: Strategies for Inclusive Economic Growth

August 12, 2021 · Research

Beyond Degrees: The Kalamazoo Promise and Workforce Outcomes

July 30, 2021 · Research

Estimated Cost of Tuition-Free College in Illinois

July 23, 2021 · Research

Economic Benefits and Costs of Tuition-Free College in Illinois

July 23, 2021 · Research

Free-tuition scholarship program modestly boosts earnings but not employment

July 21, 2021 · Research Highlight

Beyond Degrees: Longer Term Outcomes of the Kalamazoo Promise

July 15, 2021 · Research

Beyond Degrees: The Kalamazoo Promise and Workforce Outcomes

July 15, 2021 · Research

Tuition-free scholarships may blunt effects of recession, but not everyone benefits equally

April 30, 2021 · Research Highlight
Pandemic recession brought drops in enrollment. Photo: Allison Shelley/EDUimages

Delivering on the Promise movement: Q and A with Path to Free College author Michelle Miller-Adams

April 23, 2021 · Research Highlight

Promise scholarships get graduates into good jobs—if the jobs are there

April 22, 2021 · Research Highlight
Research shows graduates may move away if there aren't enough good job opportunities nearby. Photo by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages

How College Enrollment Changed for Kalamazoo Promise Students Between Fall 2019 and Fall 2020

April 19, 2021 · Research

The Road to Economic Recovery Runs Through Affordable Higher Education: Preview of Research on the Workforce Outcomes of Community-Based Promise Programs

March 12, 2021 · Research