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  5. The Impact of <i>U.S. News & World Report</i> College Rankings on Admissions Outcomes and Pricing Policies at Selective Private Institutions

The Impact of U.S. News & World Report College Rankings on Admissions Outcomes and Pricing Policies at Selective Private Institutions

File(s)
cheri_wp01.pdf (33.93 KB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/76180
Collections
Cornell Higher Education Research Institute (CHERI)
ILR Working Papers
Author
Monks, James
Ehrenberg, Ronald G.
Abstract

Despite the widespread popularity of the U.S. News & World Report College rankings there has been no empirical analysis of the impact of these rankings on applications, admissions, and enrollment decisions, as well as on institutions’ pricing policies. Our analyses indicate that a less favorable rank leads an institution to accept a greater percentage of its applicants, a smaller percentage of its admitted applicants matriculate, and the resulting entering class is of lower quality, as measured by its average SAT scores. While tuition levels are not responsive to less favorable rankings, institutions offer less visible price discounts in the form of slightly lower levels of expected self-help (loans and employment opportunities) and significantly more generous levels of grant aid. These decreases in net tuition are an attempt to attract additional students from their declining applicant pool.

Date Issued
1999-07-01
Keywords
college rankings
•
admissions
•
tuition
•
grants
•
financial aid
Related To
http://www.nber.org/papers/w7227
Rights
Required Publisher Statement: Also published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, NBER Working Paper 7227
Type
article

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