The Returns to College Admission for Academically Marginal Students

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Zimmerman, Seth D.
• 署名单位: Yale University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/676661
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: 711-754
• 关键词: regression discontinuity designs; borrowing constraints; credit constraints; education; attainment; enrollment; inference; earnings; demand; POLICY

摘要

I combine a regression discontinuity design with rich data on academic and labor market outcomes for a large sample of Florida students to estimate the returns to college admission for academically marginal students. Students with grades just above a threshold for admissions eligibility at a large public university in Florida are much more likely to attend any university than below-threshold students. The marginal admission yields earnings gains of 22% between 8 and 14 years after high school completion. These gains outstrip the costs of college attendance, and they are largest for male students and free-lunch recipients.