Differences in College Major Choice by Citizenship Status

Milagros Nores

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2010, vol. 627, issue 1, 125-141

Abstract: Studies about college majors largely ignore non-citizen or immigrant populations. Using the administrative data from two public universities in Texas, the author examine students’ major choices by citizen status. In the context of legislation providing in-state tuition access for undocumented students (H.B. 1403, effective 2001), the author tests the effects of the policy on students’ choices of major. Foreign-born populations have a higher propensity to select majors in Science, Engineering and Math (SEM) and a lower propensity to enroll in social sciences than citizens. Domestic students exhibit variable propensities to opt for SEMs, depending on their race. There is evidence of behavioral changes pre— to post—H.B. 1403, with foreign-born populations shifting away from high-return majors.

Keywords: college majors; citizenship; Texas; higher education; immigrants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:anname:v:627:y:2010:i:1:p:125-141

DOI: 10.1177/0002716209348748

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