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Discrimination against community college transfer students — Evidence from a labor market audit study

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  • Zhu, Zhengren

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence suggests widespread discrimination against community college transfer students, despite their prevalence among bachelor’s degree holders in the US. I send out fictitious job applications and conduct a labor market audit study to examine such discrimination. All applicants have bachelor’s degrees, and a random subset are transfer students who attended community colleges for their first two years of college. I find that, for accounting jobs, community college experience significantly reduces callback rates and undermines the value of graduating from selective four-year colleges. In comparison, sales and marketing firms do not exhibit signs of discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Zhengren, 2023. "Discrimination against community college transfer students — Evidence from a labor market audit study," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:97:y:2023:i:c:s0272775723001292
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2023.102482
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Miller, Lois, 2026. "Switching Schools: Effects of College Transfers," IZA Discussion Papers 18568, IZA Network @ LISER.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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