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STEM Summer Programs for Underrepresented Youth Increase STEM Degrees

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah R. Cohodes
  • Helen Ho
  • Silvia C. Robles

Abstract

Underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic workers in STEM fields contributes to racial wage gaps and reduces innovation and economic growth. “Pipeline” programs intended to increase diversity are a common intervention to address these problems, but there is little rigorous evidence of their efficacy. We fielded a randomized controlled trial to study a suite of such programs targeted to underrepresented high-school students and hosted at an elite technical institution. Students offered seats in the STEM summer programs were more likely to enroll in, persist through, and graduate from elite colleges and to graduate with a degree in a STEM field. These improvements in college outcomes raised predicted earnings by 3 to 15 percentage points. Increased knowledge of the college application process and a more ambitious college application strategy appear to be a key mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah R. Cohodes & Helen Ho & Silvia C. Robles, 2022. "STEM Summer Programs for Underrepresented Youth Increase STEM Degrees," NBER Working Papers 30227, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30227
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    Cited by:

    1. Grosch, Kerstin & Häckl, Simone & Kocher, Martin G., 2022. "Closing the gender STEM gap," Department of Economics Working Paper Series 329, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    2. Kerstin Grosch & Simone Haeckl & Martin G. Kocher, 2022. "Closing the Gender STEM Gap - A Large-Scale Randomized-Controlled Trial in Elementary Schools," CESifo Working Paper Series 9907, CESifo.
    3. Okumura, Tsunao & Ueno, Yuko & Usui, Emiko, 2024. "Effects of mandatory residencies on female physicians’ specialty choices: Evidence from Japan's new medical residency program," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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