Revisiting the Impact of the College Scorecard on Demand for Colleges
摘要
This study comprehensively examines the effect of the College Scorecard (the Scorecard), first launched in 2015, on student application and enrollment at 4-year universities in the United States by reported earnings level and sector. Using institution-year panel data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, we employed a regression discontinuity in time design and an event study analysis to examine whether application and enrollment trends at 4-year institutions shifted after the release of the Scorecard. Results indicate little evidence of shifts: students did not substantially move away from lower-earning institutions or sort into higher-earning ones, and the null findings remain across earning levels and sectors. These findings align with early studies showing limited influence of the Scorecard on college choice. Finally, we conclude our manuscript by pointing out that the National Center for Education Statistics’ federal, individual-level longitudinal surveys, which are currently suspended, will serve as critical data sources for future evaluation efforts on the Scorecard and other related federal policies, including the new accountability framework recently introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. We recommend lifting the suspension of these individual-level longitudinal surveys.