01243nas a2200133 4500008004100000020001400041245005400055210005300109520072000162653008200882100002000964700002400984856010101008 2024 eng d a2364-146800aKeeping it in the family: Student to degree match0 aKeeping it in the family Student to degree match3 a

This paper examines systematic inequalities in the match between students and the university degree they apply to, and enroll in. Using linked administrative data on the population of Portuguese applicants we create a transparent and continuous measure of student-to-degree match employing minimal assumptions. We find that students who are first in the family to attend post-secondary education consistently match to lower quality degrees across the entire achievement distribution. In contrast, only the highest achieving female students relatively undermatch. These gaps are larger at the application stage. We explore the role of student preferences and the consequences for intergenerational mobility.

10ahigher education; educational economics; college choice; mismatch; undermatch1 aMurphy, Richard1 aSilva, Pedro, Luís uhttps://www.cesifo.org/en/publications/2024/working-paper/keeping-it-family-student-degree-match