Information and College Access Intervention
About the Intervention
Information and College Access Intervention is a brief online information program designed for high school students from disadvantaged schools in Toronto. The intervention consists of a 3-minute video about post-secondary education (PSE) benefits, accompanying text, and an interactive financial aid calculator. The video presents mean earnings differences for 35-year-old Torontonians by education level (high school, 2-year college, 4-year university), discusses PSE costs and financial aid eligibility, and emphasizes that the Ontario government guarantees no student will be prevented from attending college or university due to lack of money. Students can estimate their grant and loan eligibility using the calculator by entering approximate parental income and number of siblings in PSE. The intervention is delivered online and takes approximately 3 minutes to complete, with students able to download additional printable information about applying to PSE. No special training or setup is required beyond distributing postcard invitations with unique passwords to access the online survey and intervention.
Statistical Findings
Positive effect: on expected returns to college
Positive effect: on expected returns to university
Positive effect: on reducing cost concerns
Positive effect: on PSE attainment expectations
Positive effect: on grant eligibility awareness
Positive effect: on downloading additional PSE information
Positive effect: on requesting institutional information
More Intervention Details
Focus Areas
Economically DisadvantagedPrograms & Services
N/ADelivery Methods
Online – AsynchronousDisability Support
N/ATarget Groups
Student(s)Citation
Dunn, R. & Oreopoulos, P. (2012). Information and College Access: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment (ED565850). ERIC. http://www.nber.org/papers/w18551.
Study Demographics
These charts show the demographic makeup and geographic setting of the research study that evaluated this intervention's efficacy. When assessing the fit of an intervention, consider whether it was found effective in a context similar to your own.
Participant Race
What was the racial breakdown of this study's data sample?
Participant Gender
What was the gender breakdown of this study's data sample?
Other Participant Characteristics
Geographical Setting
What was the setting of this study?