Does Place of Residence Matter?

This paper examines to what extent distance to the nearest university affects school leavers' intentions to enroll in higher education. Furthermore, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the proximity of universities and the intention to study. For this purpose, we draw on data from the DZHW Panel Study of School Leavers with a Higher Education Entrance Qualification in the years 1999-2010. There is evidence of direct and indirect effects of anticipated financial costs of distance to university on the decision to study. In addition, we find that emotional costs moderate the observed association. In the former East German states, the proximity of universities plays a less substantial role. The new states show a socio-structurally uneven distribution of individuals with higher education entrance qualifications regarding distance to the nearest university.