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The Impact of Merit Aid on STEM Major Choices: A Propensity Score Approach

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Title: The Impact of Merit Aid on STEM Major Choices: A Propensity Score Approach
Language: English
Authors: Teng Zhao (ORCID 0000-0003-3726-8134), Lara Perez-Felkner (ORCID 0000-0002-3451-8524), Shouping Hu (ORCID 0000-0003-1766-6629)
Source: Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. 2025 47(3):939-959.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Contract Number: 1920670
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Merit Scholarships, STEM Education, Majors (Students), Course Selection (Students), College Students, State Aid
Geographic Terms: Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina, West Virginia, California, Illinois
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study
DOI: 10.3102/01623737241254842
ISSN: 0162-3737
1935-1062
Abstract: Limited literature has investigated the effects of state and institutional merit-based financial aid on student choice of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) major fields, an unintended consequence with important implications. By leveraging nationally representative longitudinal data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students, we examined these effects--respectively and jointly--with logistic regressions (LR) and propensity score matching (PSM). Both the LR and PSM results showed that students who receive both state- and institution-awarded merit aid were more likely to major in STEM. For students who only received state-awarded merit aid, the PSM presented significant and positive effects while the LR did not. Institution-only merit aid had no statistically measurable effect. We discuss implications for research, policy, and practice for state- and institution-based financial aid.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1479900
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: The Impact of Merit Aid on STEM Major Choices: A Propensity Score Approach
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Teng+Zhao%22">Teng Zhao</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3726-8134">0000-0003-3726-8134</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lara+Perez-Felkner%22">Lara Perez-Felkner</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3451-8524">0000-0002-3451-8524</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shouping+Hu%22">Shouping Hu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1766-6629">0000-0003-1766-6629</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Evaluation+and+Policy+Analysis%22"><i>Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis</i></searchLink>. 2025 47(3):939-959.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 21
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: National Science Foundation (NSF)
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  Data: 1920670
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Merit+Scholarships%22">Merit Scholarships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+Education%22">STEM Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Majors+%28Students%29%22">Majors (Students)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Course+Selection+%28Students%29%22">Course Selection (Students)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Aid%22">State Aid</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alaska%22">Alaska</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Delaware%22">Delaware</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Florida%22">Florida</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Georgia%22">Georgia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kentucky%22">Kentucky</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Louisiana%22">Louisiana</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Michigan%22">Michigan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mississippi%22">Mississippi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Missouri%22">Missouri</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nevada%22">Nevada</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+Mexico%22">New Mexico</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Carolina%22">South Carolina</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22West+Virginia%22">West Virginia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Illinois%22">Illinois</searchLink>
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  Data: 0162-3737<br />1935-1062
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Limited literature has investigated the effects of state and institutional merit-based financial aid on student choice of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) major fields, an unintended consequence with important implications. By leveraging nationally representative longitudinal data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students, we examined these effects--respectively and jointly--with logistic regressions (LR) and propensity score matching (PSM). Both the LR and PSM results showed that students who receive both state- and institution-awarded merit aid were more likely to major in STEM. For students who only received state-awarded merit aid, the PSM presented significant and positive effects while the LR did not. Institution-only merit aid had no statistically measurable effect. We discuss implications for research, policy, and practice for state- and institution-based financial aid.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1479900
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1479900
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        Value: 10.3102/01623737241254842
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 939
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Merit Scholarships
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Majors (Students)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Course Selection (Students)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
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      – SubjectFull: State Aid
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      – SubjectFull: Alaska
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Delaware
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      – SubjectFull: Florida
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      – SubjectFull: Georgia
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      – SubjectFull: Kentucky
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      – SubjectFull: Louisiana
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      – SubjectFull: Michigan
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      – SubjectFull: Mississippi
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      – SubjectFull: Missouri
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      – SubjectFull: Nevada
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      – SubjectFull: New Mexico
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      – SubjectFull: California
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      – SubjectFull: Illinois
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Impact of Merit Aid on STEM Major Choices: A Propensity Score Approach
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            NameFull: Teng Zhao
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            NameFull: Lara Perez-Felkner
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            NameFull: Shouping Hu
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            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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            – TitleFull: Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis
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