Bottom Line serves 7,000 students nationally and has a randomized control trial indicating the effectiveness of the solution in increasing college enrollment and completion. Nationally, only 49% of low income students enroll in college compared to 79% of more affluent students. Sadly, Dayton Public students have even lower college-going statistics, only 29% enrolled in college within two years, according to the Ohio School Report card for the district, using data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The disparity between earnings over a lifetime average more than $1 million increase for college graduates. Lifetime benefits also include improved healthcare access, greater longevity, increased family stability, and better housing resources. Only 4% of the homeless are college graduates. These benefits also accrue to the offspring of the college graduates and will result in greater wealth transforms to the next generation.
In this project, Bottom Line will continue to work with the high schools in Dayton Public Schools to identify students interested in participating in programming. The College Access program facilitates the students preparing a balanced list of colleges, support the application process, encourage writing and revising of college essays by students, support financial aid application processes, help find scholarships for students, and assist enrolling in the college that is the best match to the students interests and affordability factors. Bottom Line’s approach to advising students is personalized, one-to-one, and based upon more than 25 years of experience.
The college persistence and completion gaps are also filled by Bottom Line. For new incoming college freshman, Bottom Line provides a summer program aimed to reduce “summer melt” the phenomena where students are admitted to college but do not enroll, register for classes and actually begin fall semester. The assistance includes problem solving, assisting with housing issues. class registration and scheduling, peer building events, and financial aid.
Students also receive assistance throughout their college careers aimed at increasing college persistence from year to year and on time completion. Support includes help with majors, tracking of credits, review of the class syllabus to manage time and studies, connecting with tutoring, and support for increasing academic performance. Bottom Line also focus on career pathways and connects persons to college internships. In this case, students will benefit from internships available through this project as well as traditional internship partners.
Bottom Line’s Success Program offers holistic support to help students from under-resourced communities graduate from college and secure careers. The program provides guidance in four key areas: academic planning, career development, financial aid management, and personal life support. Services include help with course selection, resume building, and managing life challenges. Students receive personalized, long-term support, including in-person campus visits, to ensure they stay on track to graduate and successfully transition into their careers.