Skip to main content
Log in

Differences in College Access and Choice Among Racial/Ethnic Groups: Identifying Continuing Barriers

  • Published:
Research in Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study focuses on the college application behaviors of students from various racial/ethnic groups in order to understand differences in access and college choice. Student characteristics, predispositions, academic abilities, and income levels were taken into account in our analyses. We analyzed data from the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) and the Beginning Postsecondary Student Longitudinal Study (BPS) and found significant group differences in preparation behaviors, college application behavior (number of colleges to which students applied), and attendance at their first choice of institution. The results of this study call attention to the need for campuses to evaluate the potential effects of policy decisions that may impact student choice for different populations of students.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Alexander, K. L., Pallas, A. M., and Holupka, S. (1987). Consistency and change in educational stratification: Recent trends regarding social background and college access. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility 6: 161-185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astin, A. W. (1982). Minorities in American Higher Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, T. L., and Vélez, W. (1996). Access to and opportunity in postsecondary education in the United States: A review. Sociology of Education, Extra Issue, pp. 82-101.

  • Bers, T. H., and Smith, K. (1987). College choice and the nontraditional student. Community College Review 15(1): 39-45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, J., and Van Dyk, J. (1977). Can adults be hooked on college? Some determinants of adult college attendance. Journal of Higher Education 48(1): 39-62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, D., and Wilson, R. (1992). Tenth Annual Status Report on Minorities in Higher Education. Washington, DC: American Council on Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdman, D. G. (1983). An examination of factors influencing student choice in the college selection process. Journal of College Admissions, Summer, 3-6.

  • Hossler, D., Braxton, J., and Coopersmith, G. (1989). Understanding student college choice. In Stage, F. K., Anaya, G. L., Bean, J. P., Hossler, D., and Kuh, G. D. (eds.), College Students: The Evolving Nature of Research. Needham Heights, MA: Ginn Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hossler, D., and Gallagher, K. S. (1987). Studying student college choice: A three-phase model and the implications for policymakers. College and University, Spring, 207-221.

  • Hurtado, S. (1992). The campus racial climate: Contexts of conflict. Journal of Higher Education 63(5): 539-569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurtado, S., and Navia, C. (1997). Reconciling college access and the affirmative action debate. In Garcia, M. (ed.). Affirmative Action's Testament of Hope: Strategies for a New Era. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingels, S. J., Dowd, K. L., Taylor, J. R., Bartot, V. H., Frankel, M. R., and Pulliam, P. A. (1995). National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 Second Follow-up: Transcript Component Data File User's Manual. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education National Center for Educational Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, G. (1982). Public efficiency and private choice in higher education. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 4(2): 237-247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litton, L. (1982). Different strokes in the applicant pool: Some refinements in a model of student choice. Journal of Higher Education 4: 383-402.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonough, P. (1994). Buying and selling higher education: The social construction of the college applicant. Journal of Higher Education 65(4): 427-446.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Education Statistics (1994). National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, Second Follow-Up: Student Component Data File User's Manual, NCES 94-374. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oppelt, N. T. (1990). Other higher education opportunities for American Indians, in Oppelt, N. T., The Tribally Controlled Indian Colleges: The Beginnings of Self-Determination in American Indian Education. Tsaile, AZ: Navajo Community College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orfield, G. (1988). Exclusion of the majority: Shrinking college access and public policy in metropolitan Los Angeles. Urban Review 20(3): 147-163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orfield, G. (1990). Public policy and college opportunity. American Journal of Education 98(4): 317-349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orfield, G. (1992). Money, equity, and college access. Harvard Educational Review 62(3): 337-372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, F. G. (1990). Access to college in a public policy environment supporting both opportunity and selectivity. American Journal of Education 98(4): 351-387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pascarella, E., and Terenzini, P. (1991). How College Affects Students. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, D. J., Burkheimer, G. J., Forsyth, B. H., Wine, J. S., Veith, K. J., Beaulieu, J. P., and Knepper, P. R. (1994). Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up Field Test Report; BPS:90/94. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

    Google Scholar 

  • St. John, E. P. (1992). The influence of prices on within-year persistence by traditional college-age students in four-year colleges. Journal of Student Financial Aid 22(1): 27-39.

    Google Scholar 

  • St. John, E. P., and Noell, J. (1989). The effects of student financial aid on access to higher education: An analysis of progress with special consideration of minority enrollment. Research in Higher Education 30(6): 563-581.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, B. H. (1994). Higher education issues in the Asian American community. In Justiz, M., Wilson, R., and Bjork, L. G. (eds.), Minorities in Higher Education. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wainer, H. (1984). On State Education Statistics. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hurtado, S., Inkelas, K.K., Briggs, C. et al. Differences in College Access and Choice Among Racial/Ethnic Groups: Identifying Continuing Barriers. Research in Higher Education 38, 43–75 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024948728792

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024948728792

Keywords

Navigation