Examining the Effects of Differential Tuition Policies on Bachelor’s Degree Completions

Many public universities have adopted differential tuition policies that charge higher prices for academic majors that are in high demand from students and/or are expensive to operate. I compiled the first comprehensive dataset of differential tuition policies across virtually all public universities over the last two decades to examine the effects on degree completions in business, engineering, and nursing with a focus on racially minoritized groups. Using event study techniques, I found that differential tuition modestly increased the number of engineering degrees awarded and that white students tended to benefit more than other racial/ethnic groups from differential tuition across all three fields of study.