A large experimental evaluation of the second round of Health Profession Opportunity Grants found in the aggregate significant short-term impacts (15 months after randomization) on educational progress for the low-income adults served by 38 local programs across the country. The study found that participants given access to local HPOG 2.0 programs are more likely by 16 percentage points to have made educational progress—defined as having completed training by earning a credential or having been continuously enrolled in training. This favorable impact indicates that, overall, HPOG 2.0 is on track to achieve its short-term goals. The programs increase by three percentage points career connectedness—defined as being employed full-time, in training full-time, or at least part-time in both employment and training. The programs also increase employment in healthcare by four percentage points. HPOG 2.0 programs have no detectable impacts on earnings, though it may be too early for such an impact to emerge.

The evaluation gathered data from administrative sources and through surveys of 9,620 study participants. The grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance.