RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Clearing up Transfer Admissions Standards
JF Journal of Human Resources
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 367
OP 403
DO 10.3368/jhr.0721-11774R2
VO 61
IS 2
A1 Shi, Lena
YR 2026
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/61/2/367.abstract
AB Students’ college choices can affect their chances of earning a degree, but many lack the support to navigate the opaque college application and admissions process. This work evaluates whether guaranteeing admissions to four-year colleges based on transparent academic standards affects transfer enrollment choices and graduation rates. Guaranteed admissions increased high-GPA community college graduates’ transfer rates to highly selective colleges by 30 percent. Graduation rates from highly selective colleges increased, and student debt decreased. Gains were largest for students with historically lower transfer rates. Transparent college admissions standards can increase access to selective colleges at low to no cost.