1.
Retention of Talented STEM Students in the Illinois Higher Education
INTRODUCTION
The Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy (IMSA) in Aurora, IL is a selective
residential high school for academically
talented students (grades 10-12) in Illinois
with a focus in STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics). The
Academy seeks to nurture scientific minds
that advance the human condition and bring
recognition to Illinois by developing the best
STEM talent in the state. Like other schools
where students demonstrate a high degree
of college readiness, IMSA graduates have
many opportunities for college enrollment,
and a large proportion (51.7%) of the
students leave the state for their
undergraduate education.
The export of high school graduates has
been identified as an important economic
and policy issue for Illinois, and this example
of high performing students leaving at a rate
greater than that of the general student
population (30%) may have implications for
economic development and STEM
innovation (Smalley, Lichtenberger, &
Brown, 2010).
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OBJECTIVES
Pipeline
Christopher Kolar and Carissa Rosine
DESIGN & METHODS
Information was collected from several
institutional databases. This data included
student demographics and information on
high school programs and performance; as
well as, college outcome data from the
National Student Clearinghouse. Patterns
within this data led us to focus on the state’s
retention of talented STEM students
graduating from the IMSA program.
Using this information, we replicated
descriptive measures from Smalley et al.
(2010) in order to examine relationships
between student demographic data and
college choices. In an effort to understand
the factors that contribute to the college
decisions of gifted STEM students, we
explored the connections between
underrepresented student populations (Black
and Latino) and college sector enrollment
(private vs. public). We used logistic
regression to identify specific factors that
influence the likelihood that a student will
maintain residence in the state for college.
RESULTS CONTINUED CONCLUSIONS
• 64.5% of graduates earn a degree in a
STEM field; however, more than half do so
in another state
• 12.5% of graduates report as part of an
underrepresented population
• There was no relationship discovered
between students’ minority status and
degrees earned or college attended
• 62.9% of graduates are from the
Chicagoland region
• There was no relationship between home
region and degrees earned or college
attended.
Gender
F M
Total
Count 185 142 327
Percent 56.6% 43.4% 100.0%
Count 143 163 306
Percent 46.7% 53.3% 100.0%
Out of State
Illinois
Logistic regression was used with a positive
dependent outcome indicating that the
student remained in-state. Controlling for
race and region of origin:
• Students who earned degrees in the
Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences were 3.2 times more likely to
enroll in an Illinois college than those
majoring in other fields.
• Students choosing to attend private
institutions were 6 times more likely to
leave the state than those choosing a
public institution.
• Female students were 1.5 times more
likely to leave the state for their college
education.
• Students in the top quartile based on
class rank were 2.6 times more likely to
leave the state than students in the
bottom three quartiles.
The 2010 IERC report showed Illinois as
exporting a significant number of students,
of which 16% went to public institutions and
14% went to private colleges or universities.
The results suggested that it is necessary to
determine specific factors that contribute to
college decisions of STEM-talented students
to better shape Illinois education policy;
Illinois should further develop institutions,
policies, and incentives that appeal to
students so that the top talent in desired
fields remain in the state.
The substantial export of females is
largely explained by the number of boys who
are drawn to the UIUC college of Engineering
(almost 30% of IMSA graduates), while
female STEM students are more likely to
pursue degrees in the life sciences out of
state.
While family privacy laws prevent us from
collecting certain financial information, we
do know that the top out of state private
institutions offer significant financial aid
incentives to IMSA graduates contributing to
the departure of top students.
We recommend that the IERC study the
top students across Illinois to gain a better
understanding of why they are more likely to
continue their education elsewhere.
REFERENCES
Smalley, D. J., Lichtenberger, E. J., & Brown, K. S.
(2010). A Longitudinal Study of the Illinois High
School Class of 2002: A Six-Year Analysis of
Postsecondary Enrollment and Completion. Policy
Research: IERC 2010-3. Illinois Education Research
Council.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Christopher Kolar, Illinois Mathematics and
Science Academy. ckolar@imsa.edu
Carissa Rosine, Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy. crosine@imsa.edu
This study examined initial undergraduate
outcomes from graduates of the IMSA
classes of 2006-10. Using degree data from
the National Student Clearinghouse for 633
graduates, researchers investigated
relationships between college sector, field of
study, and individual-level variables such as
gender and race.
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
STEM SBES Humanities FAA Professional
Count 207 49 32 4 29 321
Percent 51.2% 44.1% 72.7% 44.4% 50.0% 51.3%
Count 197 62 12 5 29 305
Percent 48.8% 55.9% 27.3% 55.6% 50.0% 48.7%
Out of State
Illinois
Degree Field
Total
RESULTS
These talented students are much more
likely to enroll in out-of-state private
institutions than other Illinois students as
cited in the 2010 IERC report.
• 43% leave the state and enroll in private
institutions, while only 9% enroll in out-of-
state public institutions.
Table 2. College sector attendance at in-state
and out-of-state institutions
Table 1. Degree types earned at in-state and out-of-state
institutions
Table 3. In-state and out-of-state college enrollment by
gender
Private Public
Count 268 59
Percent 82.0% 18.0%
Count 120 186
Percent 39.2% 60.8%
Count 388 245
Percent 61.3% 38.7%
Out of State
Illinois
Total
College Sector