Bottom Line Counseling had statistically significant positive impacts on college enrollment

Bottom Line Counseling provides individualized advising to high school students in Massachusetts, New York, and Illinois. Counselors help students identify and apply to colleges that should be a good match financially and academically. The program emphasizes college affordability via analysis of both student financial aid packages and the full cost of college attendance. Counselors encourage students to apply to and attend a set of target colleges and universities that the program has identified as providing the best combination of affordability and quality. Bottom Line continues to offer services to those students who attend one of the program’s set of target institutions.
Featured study. Barr and Castleman (2017) conducted a randomized controlled trial study across two cohorts of students that examined the effects of Bottom Line Counseling on college enrollment and persistence. The study was conducted in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, and in New York City.
Study findings. The study found that Bottom Line Counseling had statistically significant positive impacts on college enrollment. There was a large positive effect on 4-year college enrollment and a negative impact on 2-year college enrollment. This negative impact was expected because it contributed to the increase in 4-year college enrollment. The study also found a statistically significant positive impact on college persistence among the first cohort of students. Based on the information provided in the report, the WWC was able to confirm the statistical significance of these findings.
WWC study rating. The study used a randomized controlled trial design and meets WWC standards without reservations. Access the full study review in the WWC’s review of individual studies database.