Working Paper: NBER ID: w19286
Authors: Eleanor Wiske Dillon; Jeffrey Andrew Smith
Abstract: We use the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 cohort to examine mismatch between student ability and college quality. Mismatch has implications for the design of state higher education systems and for student aid policy. The data indicate substantial amounts of both undermatch (high ability students at low quality colleges) and overmatch (low ability students at high quality colleges). Student application and enrollment decisions, rather than college admission decisions, drive most mismatch. Financial constraints, information, and the public college options facing each student all affect the probability of mismatch. More informed students attend higher quality colleges, even when doing so involves overmatching.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: I23; I24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Financial constraints (D10) | Likelihood of mismatch (C52) |
| Information (D83) | Likelihood of mismatch (C52) |
| Public college options (I23) | Likelihood of mismatch (C52) |
| Parental wealth (G51) | Likelihood of undermatch (C52) |
| Neighborhood educational background (I24) | Likelihood of undermatch (C52) |
| Parental wealth (G51) | Likelihood of overmatch (C52) |
| Neighborhood educational background (I24) | Likelihood of overmatch (C52) |
| Informed students (D83) | Likelihood of attending higher quality colleges (I23) |
| Well-matched public university within 50 miles (I23) | Probability of mismatch (C52) |