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Clearing up Transfer Admissions Standards: The Impact on Access and Outcomes

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  • Lena Shi

Abstract

Students’ college choices can affect their chances of earning a degree, but many lack the support to navigate the opaque college application and admissions process. This work evaluates whether guaranteeing admissions to four-year colleges based on transparent academic standards affects transfer enrollment choices and graduation rates. Guaranteed admissions increased high-GPA community college graduates’ transfer rates to highly selective colleges by 30 percent. Graduation rates from highly selective colleges increased, and student debt decreased. Gains were largest for students with historically lower transfer rates. Transparent college admissions standards can increase access to selective colleges at low to no cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Lena Shi, 2026. "Clearing up Transfer Admissions Standards: The Impact on Access and Outcomes," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 61(2), pages 367-403.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:61:y:2026:i:2:p:367-403
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0721-11774R
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/61/2/367
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • 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
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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