View in EDS

The 'Geography of Opportunity' in Flyover Country: A College Match Case Study

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The 'Geography of Opportunity' in Flyover Country: A College Match Case Study
Language: English
Authors: Sabrina C. Gregersen, Joanna Full, Meghan Ecker-Lyster
Source: Mid-Western Educational Researcher. 2025 37(1).
Availability: Mid-Western Educational Research Association. PO Box 702, Athens, OH 45701. Tel: 740-593-0880; e-mail: mwera.ed@gmail.com; e-mail: mwer1316@gmail.com; Web site: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/mwer/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: High School Graduates, College Bound Students, College Choice, Academic Aspiration, Geographic Location, Proximity, Educational Opportunities, Academic Ability, Socioeconomic Status, Academic Persistence
ISSN: 1056-3997
2375-7876
Abstract: In previous studies of college match, specifically undermatching and its far-reaching consequences among traditionally underserved students, students' geographic proximity to postsecondary institutions (particularly those with which they match) has not always received much consideration. As it stands, the scholarly consensus on college match is not representative of students who live far from regions that are rich with college options of all levels. We evaluated the college match outcomes of 334 high school graduates from a public school district in the Midwest that has a relatively low concentration of colleges nearby. We categorized college match using student competitiveness based on GPA and ACT scores and college selectivity based on Barron's Profiles of American Colleges (2017). We found widespread undermatching. Further, results suggested that the geographic proximity of students' college options is associated with their likelihood of undermatching.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Access URL: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/mwer/vol37/iss1/13
Accession Number: EJ1485055
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1485055
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The 'Geography of Opportunity' in Flyover Country: A College Match Case Study
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sabrina+C%2E+Gregersen%22">Sabrina C. Gregersen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joanna+Full%22">Joanna Full</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Meghan+Ecker-Lyster%22">Meghan Ecker-Lyster</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Mid-Western+Educational+Researcher%22"><i>Mid-Western Educational Researcher</i></searchLink>. 2025 37(1).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Mid-Western Educational Research Association. PO Box 702, Athens, OH 45701. Tel: 740-593-0880; e-mail: mwera.ed@gmail.com; e-mail: mwer1316@gmail.com; Web site: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/mwer/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 23
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Graduates%22">High School Graduates</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Bound+Students%22">College Bound Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Choice%22">College Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Aspiration%22">Academic Aspiration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geographic+Location%22">Geographic Location</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proximity%22">Proximity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Opportunities%22">Educational Opportunities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Ability%22">Academic Ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+Status%22">Socioeconomic Status</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1056-3997<br />2375-7876
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In previous studies of college match, specifically undermatching and its far-reaching consequences among traditionally underserved students, students' geographic proximity to postsecondary institutions (particularly those with which they match) has not always received much consideration. As it stands, the scholarly consensus on college match is not representative of students who live far from regions that are rich with college options of all levels. We evaluated the college match outcomes of 334 high school graduates from a public school district in the Midwest that has a relatively low concentration of colleges nearby. We categorized college match using student competitiveness based on GPA and ACT scores and college selectivity based on Barron's Profiles of American Colleges (2017). We found widespread undermatching. Further, results suggested that the geographic proximity of students' college options is associated with their likelihood of undermatching.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: URL
  Label: Access URL
  Group: URL
  Data: <link linkTarget="URL" linkTerm="https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/mwer/vol37/iss1/13" linkWindow="_blank">https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/mwer/vol37/iss1/13</link>
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1485055
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1485055
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: High School Graduates
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Bound Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Aspiration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Geographic Location
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Proximity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Opportunities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Socioeconomic Status
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The 'Geography of Opportunity' in Flyover Country: A College Match Case Study
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sabrina C. Gregersen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Joanna Full
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Meghan Ecker-Lyster
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1056-3997
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2375-7876
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 37
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Mid-Western Educational Researcher
              Type: main
ResultId 1