Sharing knowledge is at the heart of our mission. Explore Ascendium’s growing library of publications that examine the complex challenges facing postsecondary learners, and how we’re helping our partners address them.
College Promise programs make higher education more accessible by covering tuition, without typically addressing nonfinancial barriers. The MDRC College Promise Success Initiative enables more colleges to supplement their CP programs with student supports.
2018 Education Philanthropy Report: Clearing the Path
January 2019
Our 2018 report, Clearing the Path, highlights our belief in catalyzing lasting change that reduces barriers that arise throughout a student’s progression from enrollment through program completion to gainful employment.
An Exploration of Student Experiences at Tribal Colleges
January 2019
This Center for Community College Student Engagement report provides a snapshot of how students experience TCUs, showing gaps in successful completion as well as how continued investments can narrow this gap.
Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) in Ohio
December 2018
A new report funded by Ascendium details the findings of the successful ASAP Ohio demonstration, helping thousands of students graduate at more than twice the rate of their peers.
Helping the greatest number of students toward successful degree completion requires broad-scale change. Wisconsin Technical College System's Student Success Center is a statewide hub that enables the 16 system colleges to learn from their peer institutions.
Seeking STEM: The Causal Impact of Need-Based Grant Aid on Undergraduates' Field of Study
July 2018
Prior research often points to students' lack of preparation for the shortage of STEM majors. This Hope Center paper investigates an alternative explanation: resource constraints.
How can postsecondary institutions encourage more students to enroll in summer courses? Will that improve their academic outcomes? MDRC’s Encouraging Additional Summer Enrollment project explores these questions to encourage more students to enroll in summer courses.
Can community colleges boost graduation rates by switching to multiple measures assessments of incoming students' readiness? Ascendium committed $1 million to help 10 Midwest colleges select and implement MMA, guided by MDRC and partners.
Podcast: How to Improve College Placement Using Multiple Measures
July 2018
Can community colleges boost graduation rates by switching to multiple measures assessments of incoming students' readiness? Ascendium committed $1 million to help 10 Midwest colleges select and implement MMA, guided by MDRC and partners.
2017 Education Philanthropy Report: Building on What Works
January 2018
We believe in leveraging existing knowledge to evaluate and support strategies that are most likely to have an impact. By building on what works, we can help more students complete their credential.