Students who get scholarships more likely to succeed

A report set for release this morning and based on research at two New Orleans-area community colleges finds that students who receive counseling and performance-based scholarships are more likely to stay in school, get better grades and earn more credits. The report will be unveiled at the state Department of Social Services. The study found that students at Delgado Community College and Louisiana Technical College-West Jefferson who received the $1,000 scholarships were 30% more likely to register for a second semester. To get the scholarships, students had to be enrolled at least part-time and maintain a 2.0 grade-point average. The scholarship recipients, many of who were single mothers, say they had more positive feelings about themselves and their ability to meet long-term goals. MRDC, a public policy group, conducted the study with money from DSS and the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Officials in other states, such as California, New York and Ohio, are looking at establishing performance-based scholarship programs because of the findings. To read the full report, click here.