Bridging Access and Success: A Longitudinal Tracer Study of CHED Scholarship Grantees

This tracer study investigated the long-term impacts of the CHED Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) on graduates of the Monkayo College of Arts, Sciences, and Technology (MonCAST). Anchored on Republic Act 10931, the study evaluated how financial aid programs influenced graduates’ educational attainment, employability, and socio-economic mobility. Using a quantitative-descriptive design, data were collected from 300 CHED scholarship beneficiaries across key academic programs. Results showed that the majority of graduates were young, female, and concentrated in education and business-related fields. A high employment rate of 72.8% was recorded, with 58.7% working locally, 8.7% self-employed, and 5.4% employed abroad. However, disparities in job quality and income persisted—over half of employed graduates were in non-permanent positions, and 94.5% remained within the three lowest income brackets. While CHED scholarships effectively expanded access to higher education and enabled initial workforce integration, the study revealed limited upward mobility for many beneficiaries. These findings highlighted the need for strengthened career support, closer industry-academe alignment, entrepreneurship development, and continuous policy evaluation. Ultimately, the study provided valuable insights into how access-driven policies could be improved to ensure not only academic success but also sustainable, equitable post-graduation outcomes.