Policy Transparency and College Enrollment: Did the Texas Top Ten Percent Law Broaden Access to the Public Flagships?

摘要: By guaranteeing college admission to all students who graduate in the top 10% of their high school class, H.B. 588 replaced an opaque de facto practice admitting nearly graduates with a transparent jure policy that required public institutions admit applicants eligible for guarantee. The transparency new regime sent clear message attending schools previously few University Texas at Austin and A&M University. Using 18 years administrative data examine sending patterns, we find sizeable decrease concentration flagship enrollees originating from select feeder growing shares located rural areas, small towns, midsize cities, as well concentrations poor minority students. We also substantial year-to-year persistence behavior once campus becomes school, this increased after top-10% was implemented.