Enrollment in Two- and Four-Year Colleges: The Role of Family Structures and Transitions

• In Event: 72.044 - The Role of Social and Cultural Capital in Postsecondary School Transitions

Abstract

Children in disrupted families are less likely to apply to, be accepted to, or attend four-year colleges and universities than are their peers from stable, two-parent families. We extend exploration into why this may occur to youths’ decisions to attend two- or four-year schools. To test this relationship, we use new data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth-1997 Cohort Post-Secondary Transcript Study (NLSY97-PTS). Logistic regression models suggest that financial resources—both income and college support—explain enrollment differences between single mother families and two-biological-parent families. Selectivity effects explain differences for youth living only with fathers or with neither biological parent. Differences for youth with social fathers persist in our models.

Authors

• Mikaela J. Dufur, Brigham Young University

• Kristie J. Rowley, Brigham Young University

• Shana L. Pribesh, Old Dominion University

• Jonathan Jarvis

• Yuanyuan Yue, Old Dominion University

• Carolina Otero, Brigham Young University

• Alyssa J. Alexander, Brigham Young University

• Amanda Ferguson, Brigham Young University