1. Detroit Promise
Place-based, last-dollar scholarship, first proposed by Governor Snyder in 2011
Two Broad Goals:
Retain and attract residents by offering an increased value proposition to living in Detroit
Increase education attainment and economic opportunity for Detroiters

2. Overview
Began offering a guaranteed, tuition-free path to an associates degree for Detroit residents/high school graduates, in 2013
No academic requirement
Open to students in all Detroit high schools, regardless of governance
Students can attend any of five metro community colleges, with the Promise covering the increased cost of non-resident tuition, if needed

3. Outreach
Four full-time staff coordinating outreach to high school students and follow-up service to those who are in college
Staff make multiple visits to every high school to explain the program and enroll students
Once enrolled, students receive on-going communication via text, social media and e- mail
Consistently registering around 75% of eligible high school seniors in Detroit

4. Community College Funding Model

5. C.C. Enrollment / Success
Averaging just over 500 new students/year for the first four years
Persistence/graduation rates for our c.c. students are at the national average for low- income, first generation students, which are very low
Existing student supports haven’t been effective in improving graduation/persistence rates

6. Detroit Promise Path
Partnership with MDRC to replicate successful community college student support model in the CUNY system
Program Components
“Intrusive” Coaching around specific protocols
Student incentives
Group sessions with coaches
Connections to campus resources

7. Four-Year University Program
Built out from a smaller existing Chamber run scholarship
Launched two cohort pilot this year
Academic requirement of 3.0 GPA and ACT score of 21
Most public and several private universities participating
263 students enrolled this fall

8. Four-Year Funding Model

9. Enrollment

10. Detroit Promise Funding
Annual budget is currently $2.7 million
Expect a maximum annual budget of approximately $5 million assuming four cohorts of four-year students
Funding sources:
Michigan Education Excellence Foundation
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Van Dusen Endowments
Promise Zone – Tax Incremental Financing (available 2019)

11. Celebration / Orientation

12. Priorities / Next Steps
Transition four-year pilot into permanent program
Increased marketing
Create a tuition-free transfer pathway between community college and four-year universities
Coordinate the Detroit Promise more fully with other youth/educational initiatives in the City

13. Program Strengths
Extremely cost effective compared to other Promise programs
Pathway to sustainability through Detroit Promise Zone tax capture
Detroit is the largest city in the country to guarantee all high school graduates a tuition-free path through college