A Study of the Effect of Talent Search on Secondary and Postsecondary Outcomes in Florida, Indiana, and Texas

Low-income students and students whose parents have not attended college typically are less likely than middle- and upper-income students to complete high school and attend college, and are thus less likely to reap the benefits of attending college. In 1965, Congress established the Talent Search Program to provide information on the high school courses students should take to prepare for college and financial aid, as well as to orient students to different types of colleges and the application process. This report presents findings from Mathematica’s study of the effectiveness of the Talent Search program in Florida, Indiana, and Texas. Based on administrative data and a quasi-experimental design to create matched comparison groups, researchers found that Talent Search participants were more likely than comparison students to apply for federal financial aid and enroll in public secondary institutions. The findings suggest that assisting low-income students to overcome information barriers may be effective in helping them achieve their aspirations to attend college. Practical information—such as guidance on how to complete financial aid and admission applications and what a college campus looks and feels like—may have been one of the key services that Talent Search projects delivered.