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The Impact Of Highly Publicized Campus Scandals On College Outcomes

Author

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  • Patrick Rooney
  • Jonathan Smith

Abstract

Recently, many high‐profile scandals have occurred on college campuses. How might scandals affect colleges' outcomes? To investigate, we construct a dataset of scandals at the top 100 U.S. universities from 2001 to 2013. We find that scandals with significant media coverage substantially reduce applications. For example, a scandal covered in a long‐form news article leads to a 10% drop in applications the following year‐roughly the same impact of dropping ten spots in prominent college rankings. This impact persists for 2 years. We find no impact on incoming student body competitiveness, yield, or alumni donations, and little effect on deterring future scandals. (JEL L82, I23, D83)

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Rooney & Jonathan Smith, 2019. "The Impact Of Highly Publicized Campus Scandals On College Outcomes," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 37(3), pages 492-508, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:37:y:2019:i:3:p:492-508
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12427
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    3. Lindo, Jason M. & Marcotte, Dave E. & Palmer, Jane E. & Swensen, Isaac D., 2019. "Any press is good press? The unanticipated effects of Title IX investigations on university outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    4. Acton, Riley K., 2022. "Is a name change a game change? The impact of college-to-university conversions," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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