Missouri College Advising Corps (MCAC) seeks to increase the number of low income, first-generation, and underrepresented students entering and completing higher education. MCAC uses recent college graduates to serve as full-time advisers in low performing high schools supporting students through college admissions, matriculation, and financial aid.
Study Goals:
This study examines whether the program increased college enrollment and college match rates. The evaluation used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design taking advantage of the varying time of intervention across schools. This strategy compares outcomes in schools before intervention to outcomes post-intervention.
Research Questions:
The research questions were:
- What is the program’s impact on college access relative to what happened prior to the program’s presence in a high school?
- To what extent have MCAC advisers increased the likelihood that students attend any college once they complete high school?
- Have MCAC advisers increased the likelihood that students attend two- or four-year colleges once they complete high school?
- What are the college match rates of students attending MCAC partner high schools in Missouri?
- How do the college match rates of MCAC schools compare to national rates more broadly across CAC?
Findings:
The evaluation found the following:
- Results indicated significantly greater (p<.10) higher education enrollment one year after the introduction of MCAC to schools.
- Results examined separately for enrollment in two- versus four-year colleges, with more significant improvements for enrollment at four-year colleges and negative results for two-year colleges.
- Match results indicated that MCAC students were slightly less likely to attend a college that is an academic match and more likely to attend a college that is less difficult for them when compared to national match rates.
For more information, download the full report.
Full report
Further information
Curators of the University of Missouri