Journal article
Promoting Academic Success Through University Microgrants for Students
Educational evaluation and policy analysis
07/07/2026
DOI: 10.3102/01623737261462496
Abstract
The high price of college attendance remains a barrier to success for students from low- and moderate-income families. In response, institutions have introduced microgrants—small, off-cycle, need-based grants for undergraduates—to support student success. However, evidence on their effectiveness is limited. Using extensive administrative and survey data, we apply doubly robust quasi-experimental matching methods to estimate the relationships between microgrants and academic outcomes over 4 years. Findings indicate that grant recipients achieved higher grade point averages (GPAs), earned more credits, had better retention rates, and graduated at higher rates than their observably similar peers. These findings have important implications for equity efforts in the current sociopolitical context, as students from historically underserved groups were more likely to receive microgrants despite their universal design.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Promoting Academic Success Through University Microgrants for Students
- Creators
- Katharine M. Broton - University of IowaSolomon Fenton-Miller - University of IowaNicholas A. Bowman - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Educational evaluation and policy analysis
- DOI
- 10.3102/01623737261462496
- ISSN
- 0162-3737
- eISSN
- 1935-1062
- Publisher
- Sage
- Grant note
- University of Iowa
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was sponsored by the University of Iowa P3 Program in Support of Strategic Priorities with additional support from the Center for Research on Undergraduate Education (CRUE).
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 07/07/2026
- Academic Unit
- Sociology and Criminology; Educational Policy and Leadership Studies; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9985180784102771
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