NCT07463131

Brief Summary

In partnership with a local community college in in Omaha, Nebraska, the Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) at the University of Pennsylvania will conduct a randomized controlled trial to determine the impacts of a negative income tax for MCC students, with particular attention to educational and career advancement outcomes. The sample will include students in a degree-seeking program, as well as those in non-degree programs, such as those working towards professional certificates.

Trial Health

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
750

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
49mo left

Started Jun 2026

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress1%
Jun 2026Jun 2030

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 4, 2026

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 11, 2026

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2026

Completed
4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2030

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2030

Last Updated

March 11, 2026

Status Verified

March 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4 years

First QC Date

March 4, 2026

Last Update Submit

March 4, 2026

Conditions

PovertyEducation Advancement

Keywords

Cash transfer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Educational Program Completion

    Completion of academic program, whether Associate's Degree or credential

    Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 42 months

  • Workforce participation

    Employment in industry associated with earned degree or credential

    Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 42 months

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Housing status

    Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 42 months

  • Food security (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale)

    Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 42 months

  • Financial wellbeing (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial Wellbeing Scale)

    Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 42 months

  • Psychological distress (Kessler 6)

    Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 42 months

  • General health

    Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 42 months

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

Associate's Degree Seekers with NIT

EXPERIMENTAL

Students currently enrolled in an Associate's Degree program at the community college will receive a negative income tax for a duration of two years followed by a linear titration of payments for one year

Other: Negative Income Tax

Credential Seekers with NIT

EXPERIMENTAL

Students currently enrolled in a credential program at the community college will receive a negative income tax for a duration of one year followed by a linear titration of payments for six months

Other: Negative Income Tax

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

These students will not receive the negative income tax

Other: Control

Interventions

Negative Income TaxOTHER

Negative income tax calculated by the supplemental poverty measures less the household's prior tax year adjusted gross income, then divided by 12 to arrive at a monthly cash transfer

Associate's Degree Seekers with NITCredential Seekers with NIT
ControlOTHER

No negative income tax payment

Control

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
18 years of age or older, and Currently in 2nd semester of MCC Associate's program OR completed at least one Level-1 credential OR within one month of completing a Level 2 credential, and Filed for EITC prior tax year OR are the legal guardian of a child under age 5, and Have a total adjusted gross income (AGI) $6,000 below the SPM for the reported family size, and Compliant with community college's enrollment, participation, and documentation requirements

Contact the study team to discuss eligibility requirements. They can help determine if this study is right for you.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Central Study Contacts

Stacia West, PhD

CONTACT

215-898-5512swest11@utk.edu

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 4, 2026

First Posted

March 11, 2026

Study Start

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2030

Last Updated

March 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share