Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/278896 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 16198
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Higher education policymakers are concerned about the success of first-generation college students. In this study, we investigate one potential factor that may influence outcomes: first-generation students' peers. To mitigate common biases that may arise when estimating peer effects, we leverage the assignment of roommates at The United States Military Academy (West Point). We do not find evidence that being exposed to a roommate(s) with a one standard deviation higher English SAT score impacts first-semester English grades for first-generation students. Our findings for math are inconclusive, with at best suggestive evidence of a small, positive effect.
Subjects: 
peer effects
roommates
first generation college students
JEL: 
I21
I26
H41
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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