RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Consequences of Academic Match between Students and Colleges JF Journal of Human Resources JO J Hum Resour FD University of Wisconsin Press SP 0818-9702R1 DO 10.3368/jhr.55.3.0818-9702R1 A1 Dillon, Eleanor Wiske A1 Smith, Jeffrey Andrew YR 2019 UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2019/11/07/jhr.55.3.0818-9702R1.abstract AB We consider the effects of student ability, college quality, and the interaction between the two on academic outcomes and earnings using data on two cohorts of college enrollees. Student ability and college quality strongly improve degree completion and earnings for all students. We find evidence of meaningful complementarity between student ability and college quality in degree completion at four years and long-term earnings, but not in degree completion at six years or STEM degree completion. This complementarity implies some tradeoff between equity and efficiency for policies that move lower ability students to higher quality colleges.