University Differences in the Graduation of Minorities in STEM Fields: Evidence from California / Peter Arcidiacono, Esteban M. Aucejo, V. Joseph Hotz.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Arcidiacono, Peter.

Contributor:

Aucejo, Esteban M.

Hotz, V. Joseph.

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w18799.

NBER working paper series no. w18799

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2013.

Summary:

The low number of college graduates with science degrees -- particularly among under-represented minorities -- is of growing concern. We examine differences across universities in graduating students in different fields. Using student-level data on the University of California system during a period in which racial preferences were in place, we show significant sorting into majors based on academic preparation, with science majors at each campus having on average stronger credentials than their non-science counterparts. Students with relatively weaker academic preparation are significantly more likely to leave the sciences and take longer to graduate at each campus. We show the vast majority of minority students would be more likely to graduate with a science degree and graduate in less time had they attended a lower ranked university. Similar results do not apply for non-minority students.

Notes:

February 2013.

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