Community colleges are powerful vehicles for social mobility in the U.S., particularly for first-generation and low-income students who are more likely to enroll in community colleges than in four-year institutions. However, the majority of students who enroll in community colleges do not earn a degree within three years.  

A growing body of research shows that providing holistic supports can dramatically improve associate’s degree completion. The Chicago-based nonprofit One Million Degrees (OMD) provides such supports, including academic support, financial assistance, professional development, and personal coaching to ensure academic success. The Inclusive Economy Lab is conducting an evaluation of the efficacy of OMD’s holistic approach to improving graduation rates and preparing students for professional success.  Read more:

• One Million Degrees Three-Year Findings
• One Million Degrees Three-Year Findings_One-Sheet
• One Million Degrees Three-Year Findings_Press Release
• OMD Signature Focus Group Findings

OMD Expansion
OMD is working to scale its comprehensive supports through an innovative partnership with City Colleges of Chicago (CCC). The Inclusive Economy Lab is also conducting an evaluation of this unique partnership model. Read more:

• OMD Process Evaluation
• OMD Campuswide Early Impact Evaluation Findings

Employment Outcomes
Initial findings from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) revealed that three years after randomization, students who were offered or who participated in OMD were significantly more likely to earn an associate’s degree. The impact of the program was greatest for students who applied to the program before coming to campus (generally during their senior year of high school). Enough time has passed that the study is now able to track educational outcomes for the study sample eight years post-graduation and, for the first time, examine the impact of the program on participants’ employment outcomes. Read more:

• One Million Degrees RCT Seven to Eight-Year Findings
• One Million Degrees RCT Seven to Eight-Year Findings_One-Pager

One Million Degrees RCT Three-Year Findings_Working Paper One Million Degrees RCT Three-Year Findings_One-Sheet One Million Degrees RCT Three-Year Findings_Press Release One Million Degrees RCT Seven to Eight-Year Findings_One-Pager One Million Degrees RCT Seven to Eight-Year Findings_March 2026 OMD Signature Focus Group Findings OMD Campuswide Process Evaluation OMD Campuswide Early Impact Evaluation Findings