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Switching Schools: Effects of College Transfers

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  • Miller, Lois

    (University of South Carolina)

Abstract

Using Texas administrative data and a regression discontinuity design, I study how transferring between colleges affects students' earnings. I leverage applications and admissions data to uncover unpublished GPA cutoffs used for transfer student admissions at each fouryear institution, then use these cutoffs as an instrument for transfer. I do not find positive earnings returns for academically marginal students who transfer from two-year to four-year colleges or from less-resourced four-year colleges to flagship colleges and show suggestive evidence of negative returns. Mechanisms include academic "mismatch" among two-year to four-year transfers, and substitution out of high-paying majors for four-year to flagship transfers.

Suggested Citation

  • Miller, Lois, 2026. "Switching Schools: Effects of College Transfers," IZA Discussion Papers 18568, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18568
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    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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