òòò½Íø Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Reducing Frictions in College Admissions: Evidence from the Common Application
òòò½Íø Journal: Economic Policy
(pp. 179–206)
Abstract
College admissions in the United States are decentralized, creating frictions that limit student choice. We study the Common Application (CA) platform, under which students submit a single application to member schools, potentially reducing frictions and increasing student choice. The CA increases the number of applications received by schools, reflecting a reduction in frictions, and reduces the yield on accepted students, reflecting increased choice. The CA increases out-of-state enrollment, especially from other CA states, consistent with network effects. Entry into the CA changes the composition of students, with evidence of more racial diversity and more high-income students and imprecise evidence of increases in SAT scores.Citation
Knight, Brian, and Nathan Schiff. 2022. "Reducing Frictions in College Admissions: Evidence from the Common Application." òòò½Íø Journal: Economic Policy 14 (1): 179–206. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20190694Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- I28 Education: Government Policy