Whose children Study in Elite Russian Colleges?

Abstract

The article analyzes the main socio-economic factors influencing the accessibility of higher education of differing quality in modern Russia. Social differentiation is discerned in the dependency of the probability to receive a higher education of a given quality (elite or standard) on certain socio-demographic features (for example, the income level or the education level of the parents, etc). Analysis of the empirical data shows that there is a considerable differentiation of colleges in the type of the education offered, the teaching quality, the prestige of the awarded diplomas, and the positions offered to graduates in the job market. These colleges also differ in the difficulty of admission and of studies. Therefore, both the motives and the social background of candidates differ significantly. Regression analysis shows that the types of family capital that influence the accessibility of higher education in general and the accessibility of «elite» education are different. Those admitted to elite colleges are usually graduates of Moscow and Saint Petersburg schools with high academic achievements, or graduates of grammar schools. Attending preparatory courses or preparing with a private teacher from the particular college are also significant factors.