UC Davis

This study examines college choice decisions of students admitted to the University of California (UC) and the relationship between these choices and degree attainment. It does so using a dataset that combines UC administrative data with National Student Clearinghouse data on enrollment and degree attainment. It first discusses how academic and socioeconomic background characteristics are associated with initial enrollment choice following freshman admission. It then looks at how this choice is associated with attainment of a bachelor’s degree within four and six years, controlling for a rich set of background characteristics.Given policy discussions, this study is particularly interested in the viability of the California Community College to 4-year institution transfer pathway as a route to a bachelor’s degree. A novel feature of this study is the use of application and admission to a selective 4-year institution (the University of California, UC) as signals of transfer intent and readiness. By exploring the enrollment choices and outcomes of UC applicants, this study offers relevance to policymakers allocating resources, to students deciding where to attend college, and to institutions. The state can direct funds either to enrollment in 4-year institutions from high school or to increase support for the transfer pathway. These choices can be shaped both by an examination of priorities in access (which students end up in which pathways), and/or of efficiency (which pathway has better outcomes). For students, a better understanding of possible outcomes may help in the college choice process. For institutions, understanding factors around student success can help to highlight inequities in outcomes and to direct resources toward those issues.