In the past decade, states that have legalized recreational marijuana have witnessed a surge in college applications, particularly from high-performing students.
The Influence of Legal Marijuana on College Admissions
Research by LA News Center’s team, recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Contemporary Economic Policy, reveals that in the year a state legalizes recreational cannabis, college applications increase by an impressive 5.5% compared to states where it remains prohibited. While the boost is short-lived, large-scale institutions experience a particularly significant increase, with applications soaring by nearly 54%.
Public colleges and universities reap the most benefits from this trend, though applications to private institutions also rise.
Enhanced Quality of Applicants
Not only do schools receive more applications, but the caliber of the applicants also improves. Standardized test scores for the top-performing 25% of applicants skyrocket, indicating that legalization attracts high-achieving students.
Why It’s Significant
These findings highlight that students are influenced by local policies when making college choices. The availability of legalized marijuana, as a proxy for more progressive societal attitudes, may entice prospective students to states where it’s legal.
The Method Behind Our Analysis
LA News Center researchers utilized the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to gather data on college applications, student demographics, and tuition costs. This data was then cross-referenced with state legislation on recreational marijuana legalization timelines.
Unveiled Findings
- Application surges are isolated to the year of legalization, with no sustained effects thereafter.
- High-achieving students are disproportionately represented in the applicant pool following legalization.
- The impact is most pronounced in large-scale universities and public institutions.
Unanswered Questions and Future Explorations
The study reveals a correlation between marijuana legalization and increased college applications, but the underlying motivations remain unclear. High school students, who are not legally eligible to purchase marijuana, may be drawn to states with legalized cannabis for various reasons.
Furthermore, researchers are curious about the role of out-of-state students in this surge. Do legalization states become magnets for students from other regions? Or does the preference for in-state schools increase, encouraging local students to apply more widely within their home state?
Future research will delve deeper into these questions, expanding our understanding of the impact of marijuana legalization on higher education.
