Inclusive Economy Lab New Study: Low-Income Chicago Students 40% More Likely to Earn Bachelor’s After College Prep Program
The 74 / May 16, 2022
By Jo Napolitano
A study of more than 7,000 Chicago Public High School students who enrolled in a program meant to improve college graduation rates for low-income participants showed they had a 40% greater chance of earning a bachelor’s degree than their peers.
The program, called OneGoal, founded in 2007, spans students’ junior and senior year of high school and their freshman year of college. It began with a class of 25 and now serves nearly 14,000 students nationwide — including in Chicago, Houston, New York City, Massachusetts, Metro Atlanta and the Bay Area — with plans for expansion.
The study, conducted by the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab, examined the outcomes of students who were slated to graduate from high school between 2011 and 2020. It found OneGoal students were also 46% more likely to enroll in college, and 47% more likely to come back for their sophomore year than similar students who did not go through the program.
