Asset Building Financial Inclusion Working Paper

Reducing the College Progress Gap Between Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) and High-Income (HI) Young Adults

College progress identifies young adults who are “on course,” that is, those who are currently enrolled in, or who have a degree from, a two-year college or a four-year college. However, little is known about the impact of these factors on low-to-moderate-income (LMI) young adults. Findings suggest LMI young adults with school savings are two and half times more likely to be on course than LMI young adults without savings. Policies such as universal Child Development Accounts (CDAs) that can help adolescents accumulate savings may be a simple and effective strategy for helping to keep LMI young adults on course.

Project: College Success

Citation

Elliott, W., III, Constance-Huggins, M., & Song, H. (2011). Reducing the college progress gap between low- to moderate-income (LMI) and high-income (HI) young adults (CSD Working Paper No. 11-15). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.