Student-College Match and Bachelor's Degree Completion

<p>This dissertation investigates the prevalence of postsecondary student-college match and explores its relationship with bachelor’s degree completion. This study differentiates itself from existing undermatch studies by examining alternative student-college match scenarios – including undermatch, match, and overmatch and examining the phenomena’s relationship with a student outcome. Using nationally-representative data, this study found that 40.6% of students undermatched (or attended an institution with a selectivity rating below their academic potential), 35% overmatched (or attended an institution with a selectivity rating above their academic potential), and 24.4% matched (or attended an institution with a selectivity congruent with their academic potential). This study results indicate students of all backgrounds and with varying academic profiles mismatch in their postsecondary choice.</p> <p>Related to bachelor’s degree completion, this study found student-college match to be a statistically significant predictor of future degree completion. Specifically, compared to matched students, the odds of four-year degree completion for undermatched students are 26% lower. Comparatively, the odds of four-year degree completion for overmatched students – compared to matched students – are 19% higher. Subgroup analysis indicates variance by socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity, but likelihood ratio tests provide evidence that such differences are not statistically significant, demonstrating that the relationship between student-college match and degree completion is the same across socioeconomic and race/ethnicity groups.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD Higher Education Leadership, Management, Policy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education Leadership, Management and Policy

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Hudes, Ryan P

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rong Chen, Ph.D.
• Martin Finkelstein, Ph.D.
• Robert Kelchen, Ph.D.

• Undermatch
• College match
• College access
• College choice
• Degree completion
• Postsecondary education
• Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
• Higher Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2211

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarship.shu.edu:dissertations-3274