Minority Educational Aspirations and Expectations under the Texas Top 10% Law: New Opportunity or False Hope?

Kim M. Lloyd, Princeton University
Kevin Leicht, University of Iowa
Teresa A. Sullivan, University of Texas at Austin

Currently over half of the Texas school-age population is either black, Hispanic, Asian, or a member of another minority group. However, these groups are dramatically under-represented in the most competitive universities in the State. The challenge of achieving a diverse student body increased following the 5th Circuit Court’s Hopwood ruling that banned the use of race in college admissions decisions. In response, the Texas legislature passed the Top 10% Law guaranteeing automatic admission to any public university to students who graduate in the top decile of their senior class. Using data from a representative sample of sophomores (n=19,924) and seniors (n=13,776) enrolled in Texas high schools during spring of 2002, we examine whether and how this law affects educational aspirations and expectations to attend college. Thus, we provide some of the first systematic evidence of how percent plans are perceived and whether they influence students’ decisions to pursue higher education.