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Can Admissions Percent Plans Lead to Better Collegiate Fit for Minority Students?

Author

Listed:
  • Cortes, Kalena E.

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Lincove, Jane Arnold

    (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

Abstract

Why do so many students mismatch when choosing a college? A plausible hypothesis is a lack of information about the likelihood of admission. This study contributes to the literature on mismatch by testing whether public university automatic admissions policies mitigate academic undermatch and promote academic overmatch by providing some students with admissions certainty. Focusing on the interaction of admissions certainty and race/ethnicity, our results support the hypothesis that a priori admissions information can vastly improve minority access to college quality by encouraging eligible students to apply to, and more importantly, enroll in more challenging institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Cortes, Kalena E. & Lincove, Jane Arnold, 2015. "Can Admissions Percent Plans Lead to Better Collegiate Fit for Minority Students?," IZA Discussion Papers 9598, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9598
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Audrey Light & Wayne Strayer, 2000. "Determinants of College Completion: School Quality or Student Ability?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 35(2), pages 299-332.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    academic undermatching and overmatching; admissions policies; Texas Top 10% Plan; automatic admissions; college enrollment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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