There is widespread concern, both in the private and public sectors, about perceived declines in U.S. college graduates in STEM fields. In our sample, the proportion of science majors has remained steady over the sample period; however, the number entering our college intending to major in STEM fields has fallen. In this paper we use…

The objective of this study is to determine if minority and female students are more likely to persist in a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) major when they enroll in classes taught by instructors of their own race or gender. Using data from public 4-year universities in the state of Ohio, I analyze first semester STEM courses to…

Using longitudinal administrative data from a large elite research university, this paper analyzes the role of peers and grades in determining major persistence in the life and physical sciences. In the physical sciences, analyses using within-course, across-time variation show that ex-ante measures of peer quality in a student's introductory…

Using student level data, the characteristics of STEM and Non-STEM students are examined for attributes associated with academic success. We use fixed effects models to analyze the variables' role in attaining graduation and college GPA and find preparation and ability, as evidenced by Advanced Placement course work, mathematical ability, gender,…

During college, many students switch from their planned major to another, particularly so when that planned major was in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field. A worrying statistic shows that persistence in one of these majors is much lower for women and minorities, suggesting that this may be a leaky joint in the STEM…

Studies of college attrition typically assume that all attrition is permanent. We use data from the 1990/94 Beginning Postsecondary Survey to distinguish between long-term dropout and short-term stopout behavior in order to test that assumption. We find significant differences between those who stop out and those who drop out in the first year.…

Doctoral programs in the humanities and related social sciences are characterized by high attrition and long times to degree. In 1991 the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation launched the Graduate Education Initiative (GEI) to improve the quality of graduate programs and in turn reduce attrition and shorten time-to-degree. Over a 10-year period, the…

Examines whether female students have higher first-year retention rates when a greater percentage of their classes are taught by female faculty at a New York State university. Results found a positive relationship between retention of female students and percentage of female-taught science and mathematics classes. Faculty gender has a greater…

Investigates three basic student financial aid issues in four-year colleges: the targeting of overall aid, aid packaging for different recipient groups, and financial aid's role in motivating persistence. Findings show that aid is distributed mainly to low-income students, compensates for low-income disadvantages, and encourages students'…

A study considered effects of class size and other class-specific variables (missing student questionnaires and attrition) on learning of college economics. Beginning class size was significant and negatively correlated to learning economics--partly since students in larger classes were significantly more likely to withdraw before taking the…

Investigates whether state course graduation requirements affect high-school dropout decisions, using aggregate data on dropout rates, individual data from two time periods, and aggregate data on high-school completion rates over 15 years. Results strongly suggest that state-mandated minimum course requirements cause students to drop out.…

Investigates enrollment and completion rates in public 2-year colleges, using models to interpret student and legislative demand. Student demand for enrollments and completion rates are not especially sensitive to labor market conditions. These patterns tend to persist over time, suggesting institutional rigidities. (Includes 6 tables, 17 notes,…