The "Geography of Opportunity" in Flyover Country: A College Match Case Study

In previous studies of college match, specifically undermatching and its far-reaching consequences among traditionally underserved students, students’ geographic proximity to postsecondary institutions (particularly those with which they match) has not always received much consideration. As it stands, the scholarly consensus on college match is not representative of students who live far from regions that are rich with college options of all levels. We evaluated the college match outcomes of 334 high school graduates from a public school district in the Midwest that has a relatively low concentration of colleges nearby. We categorized college match using student competitiveness based on GPA and ACT scores and college selectivity based on Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges (2017). We found widespread undermatching. Further, results suggested that the geographic proximity of students’ college options is associated with their likelihood of undermatching.