Does Free College 'Work' for Adults? Enrollment Impacts of Michigan Reconnect
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| Title: | Does Free College 'Work' for Adults? Enrollment Impacts of Michigan Reconnect |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Sky Duke, Taylor Odle (ORCID |
| Source: | Educational Researcher. 2026 55(4):244-254. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Community Colleges, Adult Education, Student Financial Aid, College Enrollment, Adult Students, Sex, Age, Part Time Students, State Programs, Program Descriptions, Program Effectiveness |
| Geographic Terms: | Michigan |
| DOI: | 10.3102/0013189X251393204 |
| ISSN: | 0013-189X 1935-102X |
| Abstract: | Despite rapid growth in adult free-college ("reconnect") programs, little is known about their impact on the enrollment of adults. We leverage the 2020 rollout of Michigan Reconnect to estimate causal impacts of a statewide adult free community college program on adult enrollment overall and enrollment of adults by gender, enrollment intensity, and age. We show that Michigan Reconnect significantly increased adult enrollment in community colleges by 38% (roughly 620 students), with larger gains among women and younger adults (ages 25-34). However, we show these increases were entirely driven by growth in part-time students. We expand the empirical understanding reconnect programs, discuss actionable recommendations for policy and practice, and lay a foundation for future research in this area. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503704 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Despite rapid growth in adult free-college ("reconnect") programs, little is known about their impact on the enrollment of adults. We leverage the 2020 rollout of Michigan Reconnect to estimate causal impacts of a statewide adult free community college program on adult enrollment overall and enrollment of adults by gender, enrollment intensity, and age. We show that Michigan Reconnect significantly increased adult enrollment in community colleges by 38% (roughly 620 students), with larger gains among women and younger adults (ages 25-34). However, we show these increases were entirely driven by growth in part-time students. We expand the empirical understanding reconnect programs, discuss actionable recommendations for policy and practice, and lay a foundation for future research in this area. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0013-189X 1935-102X |
| DOI: | 10.3102/0013189X251393204 |
