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Effects of a college access program for youth underrepresented in higher education: A randomized experiment

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Abstract

This article describes EXCEL, a program that encourages youth underrepresented in higher education to enroll in higher education, specifically at the sponsoring university. Eighty-three eighth grade students with GPA of B and above and standardized test scores at grade level or above were randomly assigned to the program or to a control group. The program guaranteed a scholarship to the sponsoring university and provided enrichment activities throughout high school. Program students were more likely to enroll at the sponsoring university than were control students. However, program and control students enrolled in higher education at rates that did not differ significantly. No differences were detected in self-esteem or high school GPA. Program students desired more education than control students. The results suggest that scholarship incentive and support programs that target average to above average achieving students in the eighth grade may not raise the overall number of aspiring minority youth attending college, but may be useful to specific universities to raise their minority enrollment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (R117E30184-93), by the University of Toledo Research Council Research Program, and by an Urban Research Grant from the Urban University Program of the Ohio Board of Regents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri, 16 Hill Hall, Columbia, MO, 65203, USA

    David A. Bergin

  2. Office of Excellence Programs, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Helen C. Cooks

  3. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Christi C. Bergin

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  1. David A. Bergin
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  2. Helen C. Cooks
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  3. Christi C. Bergin
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Correspondence to David A. Bergin.

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Bergin, D.A., Cooks, H.C. & Bergin, C.C. Effects of a college access program for youth underrepresented in higher education: A randomized experiment. Res High Educ 48, 727–750 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-006-9049-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-006-9049-9

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