Assessing a Free College Opportunity for Students in Disadvantaged Schools

In Fall 2007, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) initiated the Flagship Scholarship program. Flagship offers a “free college” opportunity to students from designated high schools if they are admitted to UTK, reducing many of the obstacles of application complexity and cost uncertainty while targeting aid toward students who are likely to be economically disadvantaged. We study how the introduction of the Flagship scholarship affected college enrollment outcomes for eligible students. Findings suggest that Flagship did not change the likelihood that students enrolled in college but increased the likelihood they enrolled in UTK by up to 75% and the likelihood of earning UTK Bachelor's degree by 54%. Flagship‐eligible students appear to have chosen UTK over less selective 4‐year colleges and universities. The program's effect on Black student enrollment could have accounted for close to one quarter of the incoming Black student population at UTK.