Predictors of College Enrollment across the Life Course: Heterogeneity by Age and Gender

Undergraduate college-going is now undertaken well into adulthood, but knowledge about what leads individuals to enroll derives nearly entirely from the study of “traditionally-aged”. I examine whether and how predictors enrollment vary as progress through life-course using nationally representative data United States, following a cohort ages 18–45. Measures social background academic preparation are only weakly predictive beyond age 24, while effects gender largest after 35. Marriage appears be barrier among males females, until 25. Involuntary job loss spurs most strongly those aged 35 or older, particularly women. Among over 25, marital dissolution predicts positively females negatively males.