Berkner, Lutz and Lisa Chavez. 1997. <em>Access to Postsecondary Education for 1992 High School Graduates.</em> Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.<br />
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This report uses data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 to examine enrollment patterns and access to postsecondary education of 1992 high school graduates two years after their graduation. The report focuses specifically on low-income students and racial/ethnic minorities, looking at whether financial constraints keep academically qualified students from attending college. The analysis reveals relatively low four-year college enrollment rates for Latino, African American, and low-income high school graduates. Also, the proportion of all students who enrolled in postsecondary education within two years of high school graduation was directly related to family income, with 64 percent of low-income, 79 percent of middle-income, and 93 percent of high-income students attending postsecondary education by 1994. The authors explore factors that may contribute to enrollment rates, including college costs and financial aid, educational expectations and college plans, and academic preparation as measured by a four-year "college qualification index."