A Case for the Study of Average-Performing Students in College Match

With some exceptions, much of the recent literature addressing college match has centered on the high-achieving, low income high school senior and whether he or she applied to and enrolled at the colleges deemed “most selective” and “highly selective” by Barron’s Admissions Competitiveness Index. This article aims to address the gap in our knowledge about average-performing students and their college choice process by answering the following questions: 1. What are the characteristics of average-performing students? 2. How well do average-performing students match on degree-level aspirations, affordability, and completion?