The Effects of Race, Sex, and Expected Returns on the Choice of College Major

Abstract

This paper examines whether race and sex play significant roles in the choice of college major for entering freshmen. Of particular interest is whether women and minority students are more or less likely, holding other things constant, to choose to major in science, engineering, or math (SEM). Using data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study: 1988-94 (NELS:88), results indicate that, even controlling for individual, family, and school characteristics, females are less likely, and Asians and Blacks are more likely, to choose SEM majors. However, including expected returns in the estimation eliminates the significance of being female and Asian (but not Black) on SEM major choice.

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