Indicates whether the program was a first-dollar or last-dollar program. A first-dollar award provides a specific amount of support regardless of other financial aid. A last-dollar award fills the gap between a student’s other sources of financial aid and, at a minimum, the cost of tuition.
Indicates whether there was a maximum duration for the program's financial award.
Indicates whether the program offered non-financial student support services.
Indicates that the program only covered student tuition. Note that some states use the term "fee" to reflect "tuition" (e.g., California). If “fee” reflects “tuition” or "tuition fees" that Is included here. This variable captures the covering of fees that reflected “tuition” or "tuition fees."
Indicates that the program covered other expenses not already noted in other variables (e.g., covered something other than tuition, student fees, room, food/dining, books, supplies, transportation, and childcare).
Indicates that child care is eligible to be covered by the program.
Indicates that transportation (e.g., metro pass, campus parking) was eligible to be covered by the program.
Indicates that supplies (e.g., computers, lab equipment) were eligible to be covered by the program.
Indicates that books (e.g., textbooks) were eligible to be covered by the program.
Indicates that food and dining (e.g., meal plan, dining hall) was eligible to be covered by the program.
Indicates that the cost of "room" (e.g., rent, dorm) was eligible to be covered by the program.
Indicates that the cost of fees (e.g., health fees, tech fees, campus fees, etc.) were eligible to be covered by the program. Note that some states use the term "fee" to reflect "tuition" (e.g., California). This variable does not capture the covering of fees that reflected “tuition” or "tuition fees."
Indicates the breadth of institutional participation. A program is considered statewide if it includes all institutions of at least one given type in the state (e.g., all technical colleges, all community colleges, all public 4-year colleges).
Indicates the name(s) of the institution(s) that were participating in the program.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a private for-profit less-than-2-year institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a private nonprofit less-than-2-year institution
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a public less-than-2-year institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a private for-profit 2-year institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a private nonprofit 2-year institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a public 2-year institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a private for-profit 4-year institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a private nonprofit 4-year institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a public 4-year, primarily associate’s degree granting institution.
Indicates that program included at least one participating institution that was a public 4-year, not primarily associate’s degree granting institution.
Indicates whether program had program of study requirements.
Indicates whether participants had to meet postgraduation work requirements.
Indicates whether participants had to meet postgraduation residency requirements.
Indicates whether participants had to meet academic requirements to remain in program. Requirements include the more general staying in “good standing” as well as meeting certain GPA requirements, earning a certain number of credits, completing a certain proportion of credits attempted, and meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements as defined by the institution in order to be eligible for federal student aid.
Indicates whether participants had to be of a specified age as an initial requirement.
Indicates whether participants had to demonstrate financial need as an initial requirement. Financial need was measured in several ways, including Pell Grant status, expected family contribution (or EFC), or income. Note that some programs funded as part of California Promise indicated that students who had enough financial need to qualify for the separate California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the Board of Governors Fee Waiver) should apply to that program instead in order to receive free tuition. Programs like these that indicated that participants had to have a financial need requirement above a certain threshold (rather than below) were coded as not having a financial need requirement.
Indicates whether participants had to file for financial aid as an initial requirement. This was typically fulfilled by submitting a FAFSA but some programs allowed undocumented students not eligible to file the FAFSA to file state aid applications open to undocumented students instead.
Indicates whether participants were allowed to attend part time when first enrolling in the program.
Indicates whether participants were allowed to already have earned a prior postsecondary credential below a bachelor's degree when first enrolling in the program.
Indicates whether participants were allowed to have had prior postsecondary attendance when first enrolling in the program, (i.e., individuals who were not first-time postsecondary students could participate). Although not all programs specified what they meant by first-time students, those that did generally applied the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) definition for first-time students, which includes students attending any postsecondary institution for the first time, with prior enrollment not including summer enrollment or postsecondary coursetaking before high school graduation. For more information, see What is a “first-time” student here: https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/IPEDS2k12_13/VisFaqView.aspx?mode=reg&id=6&show=all#234
Indicates whether participants must have a high school diploma or equivalent as an initial requirement.
Indicates the state of the program's administrative office.
Indicates the city of the program's administrative office.
Indicates the main website address for the program.
Indicates the official name of the program as reported on the program’s main website.