Inequality in Accurate Knowledge of College Costs and the Returns to Education

• In Event: 29.039 - A Holistic View of College Choice: Cost, Schools/Statewide Influence, and For-Profit Experiences

Abstract

This study explores inequalities in college knowledge across the socioeconomic and achievement distributions using data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009. Specifically, I examine whether 11th graders can accurately estimate college costs and the expected earnings of various levels of educational attainment. The results show that gaps in college knowledge are largely driven by math test scores, particularly among students with the least ambitious college plans.

Author

• Brian Holzman, Rice University