The Impact of Affirmative Action Bans in Graduate Studies: Evidence From California, Florida, Texas, and Washington

• In Event: State Policies and Student Outcomes

Abstract

This study uses data from the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees and a methodology that supports causal inference to examine whether affirmative action bans in Texas, California, Washington and Florida have reduced underrepresented student of color enrollment rates in graduate fields of study. Findings indicate that the bans have reduced by about two percentage points the enrollments rates of students of color in the fields of engineering and humanities in California, and by about three and five percentage points in the natural sciences and education, respectively, in Florida. These findings have broad implications for higher education policies that seek to further democratic goals in our society and should help inform current litigation efforts.

Author

• Liliana M. Garces, The George Washington University