ERIC Number: EJ1368430
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0307-5079
EISSN: EISSN-1470-174X
The Relationship between Debt Aversion and College Enrollment by Gender, Race, and Ethnicity: A Propensity Scoring Approach
Studies in Higher Education, v47 n9 p1808-1826 2022
Borrowing has become increasingly central to U.S. students' college financing choices. However, concerns about indebtedness may serve as a barrier to attaining a college degree for many students, particularly women and Black and Hispanic students. This study explores the determinants and heterogeneous impacts of debt aversion, or aversion to borrowing for college. I use a propensity score matching strategy to estimate the relationship between debt aversion and the college enrolment and financing choices of high school students while controlling for confounding variables such as students' pecuniary valuation of college, college preparedness, and family background. More debt-averse students borrow less than other students if they enroll in college and generally attend lower cost colleges. Women and Black students are more likely on average to report moderate debt aversion than other students. Strong debt aversion is associated with lower college enrollment only for men and white, non-Hispanic students, and highly debt-averse women tend to report lower borrowing relative to the control group than similarly situated men. The results point to the need for a combination of robust college counseling in high schools and readily accessible income-based repayment programs.
Descriptors: Debt (Financial), Student Attitudes, College Enrollment, Gender Differences, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Paying for College, High School Students, Student Financial Aid, Predictor Variables, Longitudinal Studies
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (NCES)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A