In an effort to improve degree completion and employment rates, community colleges have developed College Promise programs focused on removing financial barriers and providing students with comprehensive support to increase their chances of academic success. This study examined the relationship between participation in a College Promise program and measures of academic success including persistence, grade point average, unit completion, and degree completion. In addition, the study looked at specific program components (i.e., onboading, cohort model, and peer mentoring) in relation to student characteristics (i.e., ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and first-generation status) to identify aspects of the program most strongly associated with academic success. This quantitative study used a statistical analyses, including t-tests, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and least weight squares to address the research questions. Findings included that students who participated in a Southern California Promise program had different outcomes than their peers. Additionally, the study found attending on-campus orientation was a significant predictor of success among College Promise participants with respect to unit completion, 2-year persistence, and degree completion.
