Finding One's Place or Losing the Race? The Unequal Impacts of Switching Majors on College Degree Completion

• In Event: Pathways Through Math Across Levels of Schooling

Abstract

Previous research suggests that institutional pathways have important implications for the likelihood of degree completion—especially for disadvantaged students. Yet, little attention has been given to disciplinary pathways. The following paper aims to fill this gap by empirically testing whether or not switching majors is associated with changes in the probability of bachelor’s degree completion. Using the most recent cohort of undergraduate students from the Beginning Postsecondary Student Longitudinal survey, we estimate the impact of switching majors across different disciplinary groups on the likelihood of degree completion. The results indicate that students who change majors are significantly less likely to complete a bachelor’s degree, and that gender and social class advantages allow some students to offset these risks.

Authors

• Joseph J. Ferrare, University of Kentucky

• Yougeon Lee, University of Wisconsin - Madison