Leaving Home State for College: Differences by Race/Ethnicity and Parental Education

Abstract

Using the College Board SAT registration and questionnaire data of 2010 high school graduating seniors, we found clear patterns by race/ethnicity and parental education on two outcomes: out-of-state score-sending and out-of-state college attendance. White students had the highest rates and Hispanic students had the lowest rates, and there was a clear gradient by parental education with the students with college-educated parents having the highest rates of out-of-state score sending and college attendance. Substantial differences by race/ethnicity and parental education still persist after considering students’ family income, academic preparation, high school characteristics and state of residence. State-specific estimates show that Hispanic and Asian students’ low likelihood of out-of-state college-going based on all SAT takers are largely driven by students’ choices in a few states where they are highly concentrated or their presence are substantial. In contrast, the concentration of Black students and presence of HBCUs in a state seem irrelevant to whether Black students stay or leave home states for college. It seems that high performing Black and Hispanic students and those with parents lacking a Bachelor’s degree gained much in their access to a private and selective college by leaving their home states.