The Role of Parent’s Education on Children’s Educational Attainment: Direct and Indirect Effects and the Role of Children’s Major Choice

Anita H. Yuan, University of California, Los Angeles

Achievement differences in higher education play a large role in class reproduction and social mobility. In this paper, I examine whether the effects of parent's education and income have separate effects on children's college achievement. I also consider the role of parent-child interactions and major choice in mediating socioeconomic effects on college completion. I posit that field of study will have less of an effect on college completion for children of college graduates. I empirically test this hypothesis with data from NELS: 1988 – 2000. I discuss the implications of major preferences on class and race disparities in college achievement.