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The Promise Dividend

New Haven Promise’s investment in a homegrown, educated, and diverse talent pipeline has yielded significant returns that strengthen neighborhoods and the city's economy.

1. Investment In Sweat Equity & College Financial Aid

As of 2024, Promise has invested a total $76.4 Million in forms of direct scholarship disbursement, Promise-leveraged university grants, federal Pell grant and student’s sweat equity.

Student’s Self-Investment In Sweat Equity

Direct Scholarship Disbursement

Leveraged University Grants

Leveraged Federal Pell Grant

$4.4 Million*

Scholars are required to complete 40 hours of qualified community service during high school. As of 2024, Promise applicants have completed 400,000+ hours of service. 

* Estimated using CT minimum wage of each year. 

$33.5 Million

Promise scholarships directly supported more than 2,800 city students and their families.

$15 Million 

Promise leveraged more benefits for scholars by building partnerships with universities that are committed to offering guaranteed university grants in addition to the Promise scholarship.

$23.5 Million

Promise promotes FAFSA completion through hosting FAFSA Connecticut workshops to help students and families navigate the process of applying for need-based federal financial aid.

2. Return On Investment

New Haven Promise serves as an economic intervention by increasing college completion and fostering career and civic engagement. The program builds a pipeline of bachelor’s degree earners with significantly higher lifetime earnings while keeping scholars connected to the city where they grew up. 86% of Promise alumni return to the Greater New Haven region, contributing their lifetime earnings to the economy of the city that invested in their success.

Lifetime Earnings Impact

* From the 2021 The College Payoff Report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Authors: Anthony P. Carnevale, Ban Cheah and Emma Wenzinger

Scholar Dollars

By 2030, it is expected that 2,000 Promise Scholar Alumni will return to New Haven. They will earn $5.7 BILLION in their lifetime.

Over a lifetime, SCHOLAR DOLLARS are re-invested in our community contributing to a stronger New Haven.

Next Up: Neighborhood Results

View Promise’s eight key metrics of impact disaggregated by neighborhood.
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