Learning About Tuition-Free College: Evaluating the Availability and Digital Accessibility of Information on Promise Program Websites

Substantial shares of eligible students forgo or lose access to tuition-free college benefits, in part due to limited access to information on eligibility and other requirements. Given students’ dependence on the Internet for information on how to pay for college, we examine the availability and digital accessibility of critical program information on websites for the population of statewide tuition-free (Promise) programs (N = 39). To this end, we use an original dataset on Promise program websites and descriptive quantitative analyses. Drawing on the framework of administrative burdens from public administration, this study sheds light on potential informational barriers (learning costs) students may face in accessing Promise programs benefits. Findings indicate that Promise program websites prominently feature the benefits and requirements for initial eligibility. In contrast, certain eligibility criteria, information on deadlines, and renewal requirements are not readily available. We find limited options for students to contact program representatives and large variability across websites, signaling that programs could learn from others to reduce learning costs for students by providing more accessible information on official program websites.