Inequality in College Knowledge among Children of Immigrants

As students from immigrant families comprise a growing share of the U.S. student population, understanding their access to postsecondary education is increasingly critical. Drawing on nationally representative survey data, this study investigates generational differences in high school students’ college knowledge, including their ability to estimate college costs and expected earnings, their accuracy in doing so, and their awareness of financial aid. The findings show that students across immigrant generations substantially overestimate college costs, especially for public institutions. Compared with third- and higher-generation students, first- and second-generation students show some initial disadvantages in tuition knowledge, but these differences are largely reduced after accounting for background characteristics. Subgroup analyses suggest that first-generation gaps in public four-year tuition accuracy are most evident among relatively advantaged and college-oriented students. In contrast, first-generation students are less likely than third- and higher-generation students to report not knowing what the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is after controls are added. This study contributes to the literature on immigrant-generation differences and postsecondary choice by showing that college financial knowledge is multidimensional: students from immigrant families may be less calibrated in their understanding of college costs while also demonstrating awareness of specific financial aid tools.