Working Paper: NBER ID: w21781
Authors: Lindsay C. Page; Judith Scott-Clayton
Abstract: Socioeconomic gaps in college enrollment and attainment have widened over time, despite increasing returns to postsecondary education and significant policy efforts to improve access. We describe the barriers that students face during the transition to college and review the evidence on potential policy solutions. We focus primarily on research that examines causal relationships using experimental or quasi-experimental methods, though we draw upon descriptive evidence to provide context. Our review is distinctive in three respects. First, in addition to the literature on financial aid, we examine the evidence on informational and behavioral interventions, academic programs, and affirmative action policies intended to improve college access. Second, we incorporate a wealth of recent research not included in prior reviews. Finally, we conceptualize college access broadly, as including not just whether but also where students attend and whether they have access to college-level courses. We conclude with a discussion of implications for policy and research.
Keywords: college access; financial aid; educational policy; socioeconomic disparities
JEL Codes: I22; I23; I24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Increased Financial Aid (I22) | Decreased Cost of Attendance (I22) |
| Behavioral Interventions (C99) | College Application Rates (I23) |
| Behavioral Interventions (C99) | College Enrollment Rates (I23) |
| Affirmative Action Policies (J78) | College Enrollment Among Underrepresented Groups (I24) |
| Financial Aid Availability (I22) | College Enrollment Rates (I23) |
| Informational Interventions (D83) | College Application Rates (I23) |
| Academic Interventions (I23) | College Readiness (I23) |