September 25, 2025
For 20 years, the Upjohn Institute has been at the forefront of research and evaluation of place-based, tuition-free college programs, beginning with the Kalamazoo Promise in 2005. What started as a bold local initiative has since grown into a national movement, a transformation informed by the Institute’s research and policy expertise. Today, there are more than 200 place-based or “Promise” programs across the country.
A Trusted Partner from the Start
Following the Kalamazoo Promise announcement in November 2005, the Upjohn Institute quickly became the program’s research partner. With initial support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Institute brought together community leaders, helped define the research agenda, and provided insights that extended far beyond scholarship administration. From the very beginning, the Kalamazoo Promise was recognized not only as a scholarship but as a potential driver of educational, workforce, and community change.
Building a Body of Evidence
Since 2006, the Institute has produced more than 80 publications on Promise-related programs. These studies, many of them peer-reviewed, have received global attention and are widely cited by scholars and policymakers. Upjohn’s Kalamazoo Promise research has explored a wide range of topics, from the impact on K-12 student enrollment, achievement, and behavior; to college-going, persistence, and completion; to effects on community migration and location outcomes for graduates. The Institute's work also includes cost-benefit analyses and ongoing analysis of Kalamazoo Promise indicators.
Building a Research Community
Beyond research, the Upjohn Institute has been instrumental in convening a network of Promise researchers and practitioners. The Institute has co-organized 12 PromiseNet conferences, with six hosted in Kalamazoo, that bring together the wide range of participants involved in creating and sustaining Promise programs. It also maintains a comprehensive Promise Programs Database, used by researchers, media, and community leaders across the country. Through grants from leading national foundations, the Upjohn Institute has overseen collaborative research projects, including the creation of The Free College Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide to Promise Research, with an updated version to be released in November 2025.
Local, State, and National Impact
The Institute’s impact extends from its home base in Kalamazoo to communities across the nation. In addition to its 20-year partnership with the Kalamazoo Promise, the Institute has provided consulting services to more than 50 communities nationwide on program design and cost estimation. Its work includes the evaluation of major Promise initiatives such as KC Scholars, the Columbus Promise, and the Bearcat Advantage. Additionally, the Institute offers policy advice to Michigan and other states considering statewide free college initiatives.
Looking Ahead
As Michelle Miller-Adams, Upjohn Institute senior researcher and expert on the Promise movement, explains: “Free college programs are about more than removing financial barriers. They represent a rethinking of the role education plays in building stronger communities and more inclusive economies.”
She adds: “The Kalamazoo Promise sparked a movement that has reshaped how policymakers, educators, and families think about access to higher education. The Institute’s role has been to document what works, share those lessons, and help communities use that knowledge to expand opportunity.”
As the free college movement continues to evolve, the Upjohn Institute remains committed to advancing evidence-based policy and practice. Through rigorous research and deep expertise, the Institute has helped shape programs that expand opportunity, strengthen local economies, and inspire a national conversation about the role of education in creating a more equitable future.