Class Composition: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Coursemates and College Enrollment

Objective. We investigate how a student’s social climate in school, specifically the percentage of coursemates whose parents are college educated, influences the likelihood of enrolling in a four-year college. Methods. Using Add Health and AHAA data, we employ hierarchical logistic regression models to analyze how the socioeconomic characteristics of coursemates influence four-year college enrollment. Results. We find evidence that taking courses with children of collegeeducated parents increases the likelihood of four-year college enrollment even after controlling for family background, achievement, and placement. Conclusion. We argue that the family background characteristics of coursemates may influence college enrollment because coursemates provide access to educational resources, such as information about college, and encourage students to apply to college by serving as a reference group. The favorable educational attainment of students with college-educated parents is partially due to the greater likelihood that they will take courses with other children of college-educated parents.