brown bag Travail et Économie Publique

Du 15/02/2024 de 12:30 à 13:30

PSE- 48 boulevard Jourdan, 74014 Paris, salle R1-09

BONNEAU Cécile (PSE)

Price of Admission: The Impact of Application Fees on STEM Graduate Schools Applicants

This study examines the impact of application fees on the application behavior and admission outcomes of STEM graduate school applicants in France. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design and data from the centralized admission process to STEM graduate schools from 2015 to 2020, the findings reveal a significant reduction in the number of applications of candidates who have to pay application fees, leading to adverse admission outcomes, especially for male students, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, or with lower academic achievements. Additionally, the study shows that the design of application fees, whether decentralized or centralized, significantly impacts application patterns. The eviction effect of application fees is more pronounced in schools requiring a specific fee for each application, compared to those with a common application fee structure.