Is it our Race or our Place? Examining Differences in College Enrollment Using the Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Method

Abstract

College enrollment is a key driver of economic mobility, yet persistent disparities by race and high school locale raise critical questions about access to postsecondary education. Using nationally representative data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), this paper employs a linear probability model and the Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition method to examine how race and high school locale influence college enrollment among Black and White non-Hispanic students. The findings indicate that racial identity plays a more significant role than high school locale in explaining differences in college enrollment. To remedy disparities, policies should emphasize expanding college readiness resources, restoring consideration of race in college admissions, and improving support for students in urban and historically marginalized communities.