The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Vet Corps program engages AmeriCorps members to help veterans and their family members take advantage of educational benefits and services earned through their military service. To better understand the impact of the program in relation to costs, AmeriCorps commissioned a return on investment (ROI) analysis.
Key Findings:
- The Vet Corps program at two-year institutions produces strong returns for the medium- and long-term scenarios; ROIs under these scenarios range from $3.16 in return for every dollar invested to $17.52 for every dollar invested.
- Benefits of WDVA Vet Corps include: 1) Additional lifetime earnings resulting from improved employment outcomes for program participants; 2) Additional earnings by AmeriCorps members; 3) Living allowances, stipends, and education awards for AmeriCorps members; 4) increased tax revenue for government; and 5) reduced lifetime spending on corrections, public assistance, and social insurance.
Return on Investment (ROI) Studies
AmeriCorps and its grantees have invested significant resources in evaluating different agency programs and supported program models designed to improve a range of outcomes for national service members and volunteers, children, families, organizations, and communities across America. AmeriCorps has commissioned ICF International to conduct ROI analyses to help measure the program performance and build the base of evidence for future resource allocation decisions. In addition, each ROI study helps AmeriCorps communicate the value of its programs to relevant stakeholders. The ROI Studies Project will produce 16 ROI assessments from FY20 to FY23.
Full report
Further information
AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation Commissioned Report