Rooming With Joe vs. Zhou: Differential Impacts of International Roommates on College Outcomes

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:20 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: International Contexts and Students in Higher Education (Table 7)

Abstract

This study examines the influence of roommate pairings between international and domestic students on college outcomes. We employ quasi-experimental methods, using institutional data (7,000+ students spanning 15 years) from a US liberal arts college serving low-income students. Results show positive effects on first-year GPA for domestic students, with effects persisting but diminishing over time. A significant increase in second-year retention is also observed. However, no graduation effect and only a small global outlook effect are found. For international students, rooming with domestic US students showed no difference compared to rooming with other international students. This points to the potential benefits of intentional policies to promote interactions among individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Authors

• Hsin-Ta Tsai, Georgia Institute of Technology/Georgia State University

• Jose Eos Trinidad, University of California - Berkeley