Postsecondary Education
Testing Earning a college degree is a primary pathway for economic success, yet students from historically underserved communities often lack awareness of and access to vital resources for successful college application and enrollment. This gap exacerbates existing inequalities, hindering academic and economic advancement. Abt identifies and disseminates evidence-informed practices that help students enroll and complete their college education or other postsecondary credentials and reduce barriers to success. We design and conduct rigorous evaluations of programs—from high-school coaching to smartphone apps—that help keep students on track. Our technical assistance and strategic advising increases program impact, paving the way for fair futures and successful careers.
Expertise
- Research, Monitoring, Evaluation
- Technical Assistance and Strategic Advising
- Systematic Evidence Reviews and Clearinghouses
- Digital and Data Services for Informed Decision-Making
Clients Include
U.S. Department of Education
National Science Foundation
State and local agencies
Foundations, philanthropies, and nonprofits
Our Work
Finding that text messages on college enrollment for seniors in low-income, high-need high schools didn’t impact enrollment or persistence
Assessment that the Success Boston transition coaching program improves college persistence, achievement, financial aid, and completion
Through the What Works Clearinghouse, clear guidance on effective interventions and strategies to help students prepare for postsecondary success
Study of undermatching, college outcomes, and college persistence in high school seniors in 194 federal programs
Exploration of strategies to test if they improve access to dual enrollment courses
Identification of promising approaches to promote persistence in community college students and assessment of scalable technology solutions
Our Experts
Insights
Coaching for Completion: Final Report for Success Boston Coaching
Abt’s study of Success Boston’s transition coaching program found coached students had higher 4- and 5-year postsecondary completion rates than their peers.
3 Steps to Bring Much-Needed Equity to Student Debt
With the burdens of student debt falling disproportionately on Black students, this blog suggests new policy responses to address the inequities.
Study of Enhanced College Advising in Upward Bound: Impacts on Steps Toward College
Find the Fit advising increased the number and selectivity of colleges applied to by disadvantaged students in a federal college access program. Find the Fit includes customized information about college going and costs, text messaging of key application and financial aid deadlines, and related advisor training. These research-based strategies are designed to help students enroll in the best college they can and stay in until they complete a degree. This first report looks at Find the Fit’s effects on students’ steps toward enrolling in a more selective college.Click the links below to view PDFs of the study report, snapshot, highlights, appendices, and program materials.Study SnapshotStudy HighlightsStudy AppendicesFind the Fit program materials
Three Approaches for Improving College Access and Affordability
The Biden Administration’s debt forgiveness bought college students time; this blog offers three approaches that could lead to longer-term solutions.
Can Children’s Savings Account Programs Help Black and Latine Families Better Access College?
A new blog examines how children’s savings account programs can support access to college for Black and Latine students.
Impacts of Two Technology Interventions on Associate’s Degree Completion or Equivalent Transfer
Abt’s assessment of the College Success Prize competition found that neither app affected the outcomes of students who tested into remediation at college entry.
What Works Clearinghouse Postsecondary Education, Postsecondary Preparation, and Evidence Reporting (WWC-PEPPER) Intervention Reports
Abt developed several reports for the What Works Clearinghouse Postsecondary Education, Postsecondary Preparation, and Evidence Reporting (WWC-PEPPER) project.