Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Center for International Security and Cooperation Stanford University


Publications




Information, College Decisions and Financial Aid: Evidence from a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in China

Working Paper

Authors
Prashant Loyalka - Stanford University
Yingquan Song - Stanford University
Jianguo Wei
Weiping Zhong
Scott Rozelle - Stanford University


Past studies find that disadvantaged students in the United States are often misinformed about college costs and financial aid opportunities and thus may make sub-optimal decisions regarding college. This information problem may be even more serious in developing countries. We therefore conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of providing information on college costs and financial aid to high school students in poor regions of northwest China. We find that information increases the likelihood that students receive some types of financial aid, but has no significant effect on specific college choices or whether students persist to go to college.

Topics: China | United States