Programs in Midwestern States
2025 College Promise Programs in the Midwest
This report discusses the features that distinguish college promise programs from traditional grant aid programs and details the characteristics of promise programs in the 12 Midwestern states. It also summarizes findings from research on the outcomes of college promise programs and identifies key considerations for program designers and evaluators. The report concludes by identifying policy options and best practices for designing and implementing programs that increase college affordability, enrollment, and attainment.
This report was commissioned by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that brings together leaders from the 12 Midwestern states to strengthen postsecondary education, advance student success, and promote regional economic vitality. After receiving numerous requests from Midwestern legislators, policymakers, and higher education leaders about the benefits and challenges of promise programs, MHEC turned to Professor Laura Perna, one of the nation's most knowledgeable scholars on college access and affordability. Perna's research on promise programs in this new report will be shared throughout MHEC's network to inform and improve program design, implementation, and evaluation and represents valuable new information for similar programs nationwide.
Press Release June 25, 2025
Report
Map of College Promise Programs in Midwestern States
For more information about this work or access to the datasets, please email Laura Perna at lperna@upenn.edu. For media inquiries, contact Kat Stein at katstein@upenn.edu.
