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The impact of post-admission merit scholarships on enrollment decisions and degree attainment: Evidence from randomization

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  • Firoozi, Daniel

Abstract

Most colleges offer post-admission merit scholarships to attract academically-talented students ahead of enrollment deadlines. I use administrative data on one such program which was randomly assigned at a large public university to test for effects on college choice and degree completion. I find a large recruitment impact on disadvantaged students at the expense of similar in-state public colleges, with no effect on graduation rates. By contrast, there are minor negative impacts on the enrollment decisions and degree attainment of advantaged students. This heterogeneity may justify limiting eligibility for such scholarships by socioeconomic status.

Suggested Citation

  • Firoozi, Daniel, 2022. "The impact of post-admission merit scholarships on enrollment decisions and degree attainment: Evidence from randomization," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:86:y:2022:i:c:s0272775721001321
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102221
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    College; Low income; Merit scholarship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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