Using Propensity Score Matching to Investigate the Economic Impact of College Outmigration

• In Event: 33.045 - Applications of Propensity Scoring and Latent Variable Methodologies in Large-Scale Database Analyses

Abstract

Illinois has a history of outmigration, or exporting significantly more high school graduates to out-of-state colleges than Illinois higher education institutions are able to attract from out of state. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to estimate what would have happened if outmigrants had earned their degrees in Illinois. Relative to outmigrants, more of the students who opted to attend college in Illinois gained employment in Illinois. Furthermore, employment outcomes vary by other factors. For example, outmigrants with STEM degrees were less likely to return to Illinois. We discuss the impact of outmigration on subsequent employment and provide policy recommendations relevant to states where outmigration is an issue.

Authors

• Eric J. Lichtenberger, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

• Cecile Dietrich, Radford University