The Cumulative Effect of the Top Five Factors Associated With Higher Initial Four-Year and Two-Year College Enrollment Rates

• In Event: Factors Affecting College Enrollment

Abstract

During 2011 Texas cut its education budget to school districts by $4 billion over the next biennium. Stakeholders in the Central Texas Student Futures Project (SFP) hoped to identify the cumulative effect of various factors on postsecondary enrollment to better articulate to their school boards the value of these factors on student transitions to postsecondary education. This paper examines the cumulative effect of specific factors on initial postsecondary education outcomes for 2008 (N=4,800) and 2009 (N=7,300) high school graduates participating in the SFP. Findings indicate that the activities and types of activities strongly associated with enrollment vary depending on the population examined. Engaging in additional activities more often than not leads to a diminishing return.

Authors

• Greg Cumpton, The University of Texas - Austin

• Deanna T. Schexnayder, The University of Texas - Austin

• Chandler Stolp, The University of Texas - Austin

• Christopher King, The University of Texas - Austin