College promise programs, also known as free college initiatives, have the potential to address structural barriers to college access and enrollment in terms of financial, academic, and informational. The current literature indicates that these programs generally increase educational outcomes, but no prior studies have explored the overhead costs…

The notion of free college is appealing to students and families, particularly those who struggle to manage climbing college prices. The promise of "free" can encourage low-income or first-generation students to enroll in college when the fear of high prices may deter them otherwise. But what does "free" actually mean? Who…