Acquiring Capital for College: The Constraints of Family Configuration

Abstract

We investigate the influence of size of sibling group and ordinal position on financial arrangements for college. While this analysis has implications for the status attainment and human capital perspectives, it also represents a direct test of the resource dilution hypothesis. Analyzing a sample of 3279 subjects from the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972, we estimate the association between the number of siblings and (1) the likelihood of parental support of students in college, (2) the amount of parental contributions, and (3) the proportion of total college costs borne by parents. In all cases, a strong inverse relationship is found. Conversely, large sibship sizes increase the dependence upon funds from extrafamilial sources, such as loans, scholarships, employment, and savings. Effects of birth order, although less pronounced, signify a financial advantage to latter-born children. Moreover, sibship structure affects the likelihood that youths cite financial barriers for not attending college.

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