Postsecondary Enrollment Selectivity and Undermatching for Disabled Students

• In Event: Understanding the Role of Undermatching and Institutional Selectivity in College Choice

Abstract

Disabled students attend two-year institutions at disproportional rates, implying underrepresentation at four-year institutions and differences in selectivity in college enrollment more broadly. However, little is known about the selectivity of institutions disabled students attend. Differences in the selectivity of college enrollment could be explained by college undermatching. This study examines the selectivity of college enrollment for disabled students, the extent of underrepresentation by college selectivity, and the role undermatching plays in these processes. Our findings challenge the assumption that disabled students are more likely to undermatch, but show that disabled high school students exhibit notably lower college attendance rates than their nondisabled counterparts. Given these findings, this study offers recommendations aimed at improving the college access of disabled students.

Authors

• Ling Chen, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Ryan S. Wells, University of Massachusetts - Amherst