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The Opportunity Cost of Admission Preferences at Elite Universities

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  • Thomas J. Espenshade
  • Chang Y. Chung

Abstract

Objective. This study examines how preferences for different types of applicants for admission to elite universities influence the number and composition of admitted students. Methods. Previous research with these NSCE data employed logistic regression analysis to link information on the admission decision for 124,374 applications to applicants' SAT scores, race, athletic ability, and legacy status, among other variables. Here we use micro simulations to illustrate what the effects might be if one were to withdraw preferences for different student groups. Results. Eliminating affirmative action would substantially reduce the share of African Americans and Hispanics among admitted students. Preferences for athletes and legacies, however, only mildly displace members of minority groups. Conclusions. Elite colleges and universities extend preferences to many types of students, yet affirmative action is the one most surrounded by controversy.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas J. Espenshade & Chang Y. Chung, 2005. "The Opportunity Cost of Admission Preferences at Elite Universities," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 86(2), pages 293-305, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:86:y:2005:i:2:p:293-305
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0038-4941.2005.00303.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Card & Alan B. Krueger, 2005. "Would the Elimination of Affirmative Action Affect Highly Qualified Minority Applicants? Evidence from California and Texas," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 58(3), pages 416-434, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dylan Conger & Lisa Dickson, 2017. "Gender Imbalance in Higher Education: Insights for College Administrators and Researchers," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 58(2), pages 214-230, March.
    2. Long Mark C, 2010. "Affirmative Action at Nearby Colleges: Temporal and Regional Changes," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 10(1), pages 1-31, July.
    3. Arcidiacono, Peter & Kinsler, Josh & Ransom, Tyler, 2022. "Asian American Discrimination in Harvard Admissions," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    4. Li, Dong & Weisman, Dennis L., 2011. "Why preferences in college admissions may yield a more-able student body," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 724-728, August.
    5. Aaron Bodoh-Creed & Brent Hickman, 2016. "College Assignment as a Large Contest," Working Papers 2016-27, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
    6. Jonathan Meer & Harvey S. Rosen, 2009. "Family Bonding with Universities," NBER Working Papers 15493, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Antman, Francisca M. & Duncan, Brian & Lovenheim, Michael F., 2024. "The Long-Run Impacts of Banning Affirmative Action in US Higher Education," IZA Discussion Papers 17169, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Frédéric Teulon & Claude Alavoine & Guillaume Bigot & Dominique Bonet & Bernard Terrany, 2014. "Renverser les discriminations : la politique américaine de discrimination positive," Working Papers 2014-350, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    9. Geoffrey Odaga & Esther Kibuka-Sebitosi, 2021. "The fair share dimension of tertiary educational distribution," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 21(1), pages 26-50, January.
    10. Philippe Cyrenne, 2020. "Elite Universities, Program Capacities and the Student Admission Decision," Departmental Working Papers 2020-02, The University of Winnipeg, Department of Economics.
    11. Bodoh-Creed, Aaron L. & Hickman, Brent R., 2018. "College assignment as a large contest," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 88-126.

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