Research

Here is a summary of my current and previous research projects–with copies of papers and reports where available.

Google Scholar profile

Book
Kelchen, R. (2018). Higher Education Accountability. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. (JHU Press site, Amazon)

Journal Articles

Ortagus, J., Baker, D., Rosinger, K., Morales, O., & Lingo, M. (accepted). The Revenue Implications of Community Colleges’ Reliance on Local Funding. AERA Open.

Everett, A., Rosinger, K., Baker, D., Kim, H., Kelchen, R., & Ortagus, J. (accepted). Tennessee’s Burden: How Students Apply for Financial Aid Within One Southern State. Research in Higher Education.

Kelchen, R., & Pingel, S. (2024). Examining the Effects of Tuition Controls on Student Enrollment. Research in Higher Education, 65, 70-91. (link, accepted version)

Kelchen, R., Ortagus, K., Rosinger, K., & Cassell, A. (2024). Investing in the Workforce: The Impact of Performance-Based Funding on Student Earnings Outcomes. The Journal of Higher Education, 95(2), 175-199. (link, accepted version)

Kelchen, R., Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., Baker, D., & Lingo, M. (2024). The Relationships between State Higher Education Funding Strategies and College Access and Success. Educational Researcher, 53(2), 100-110. (link, accepted version)

Kelchen, R., Lingo, M., Rosinger, K., Baker, D., Ortagus, J., & Wu, J. (2023). A Typology and Landscape of State Funding Formulas for Public Colleges and Universities from 2004 to 2021. The Review of Higher Education. (link, accepted version)

Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., Kelchen, R., Voorhees, N., & Chu, G. (2023). A National Analysis of the Impact of Performance-Based Funding on Completion Outcomes Among Underserved Students. The Review of Higher Education, 46(4), 415-452. (link)

Rosinger, K., Ortagus, J., Kelchen, R., & Choi, J. (2023). The Impact of Performance Funding Policy Design on College Access and Selectivity. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. (link)

Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., Kelchen, R., Chu, G., & Lingo, M. (2023). The Unequal Impacts of Performance-Based Funding on Institutional Resources in Higher Education. Research in Higher Education, 64, 705-739. (link)

Kelchen, R., Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., & Cassell, A. (2022). The Effects of State Performance Funding Policies on Student Loan Debt. Economics of Education Review, 91, Article 102328. (author’s accepted version, link)

Rosinger, K., Kelchen, R., Baker, D., Ortagus, J., & Lingo, M. (2022). State Higher Education Funding During COVID-19: Lessons from Prior Recessions and Implications for Equity. AERA Open, 8. doi: 10.1177/23328584221091277 (link)

Rosinger, K., Ortagus, J., Kelchen, R., Cassell, A., & Brown, L. (2022). New Evidence on the Evolution and Landscape of Performance Funding for Higher Education. The Journal of Higher Education, 93(5), 735-768. (link)

Rippon, L., Chen, R., Kelchen, R., & Boergers, R. (2022). A National Study on Relationship between Programmatic Factors and Athletic Training Education BOC Pass Rates. Athletic Training Education Journal, 17(1), 37-45. (link)

Hu, X., Ortagus, J., Voorhees, N., Rosinger, K., & Kelchen, R. (2022). Disparate Impacts of Performance Funding Research Incentives on Research Expenditures and State Appropriations. AERA Open, 8(1). doi: 10.1177/23328584211071109. (link)

Kelchen, R., & Liu, Z. (2022). Did Gainful Employment Regulations Result in College and Program Closures? Education Finance and Policy, 17(3), 454-478. (link, author’s accepted version)

Li, A. Y., & Kelchen, R. (2021). Policy Diffusion of Performance Funding Equity Metrics: Traditional Neighbor and Dyadic Survival Analyses. Educational Policy. doi: 10.1177/08959048211058439. (link)

Collier, D., Fitzpatrick, D., Dell, M., Snideman, S., Marsicano, C., Kelchen, R., & Wells, K. (2021). We Want You Back: Uncovering the Effects on In-Person Instructional Operations in Fall 2020. Research in Higher Education. doi: 10.1007/s11162-021-09665-5. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2021). Factors Associated with Parent and Student Debt of Bachelor’s Degree Recipients. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 50(3), Article 5. (link).

Kelchen, R. (2021). An Exploration of Nonresident Student Enrollment and Institutional Finances at Public Universities. Journal of Postsecondary Student Success, 1(1), 81-105. (link)

Li, A. Y., & Kelchen, R. (2021). Institutional and State-Level Factors Related to Paying Back Debt Among Public, Private, and For-Profit Colleges. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 50(2), Article 2. (link)

Ortagus, J., Kelchen, R., Rosinger, K., & Voorhees, N. (2020). Performance-Based Funding in American Higher Education: A Systematic Synthesis of the Intended and Unintended Consequences. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 42(4), 520-550. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2020). Does the Bennett Hypothesis Hold in Professional Education? An Empirical Analysis. Research in Higher Education, 61(3), 357-382. (link, pre-publication version)

Anderson, D. M., Broton, K. M., Goldrick-Rab, S., & Kelchen, R. (2020). Experimental Evidence on the Impacts of Need-Based Financial Aid: Longitudinal Assessment of the Wisconsin Scholars Grant. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 39(3), 720-739. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2019). Do High Cohort Default Rates Affect Student Living Allowances and Debt Burdens? An Empirical Analysis. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 49(1), Article 3. (link)

Kelchen, R., Rosinger, K., & Ortagus, J. (2019). How to Create and Use State-Level Policy Data Sets in Education Research. AERA Open, 5(3), 1-14. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2019). Exploring the Relationship between Performance-Based Funding Design and Underrepresented Student Enrollment at Community Colleges. Community College Review, 47(4), 382-405. (link, pre-publication version)

Kelchen, R. (2019). An Empirical Analysis of the Bennett Hypothesis in Law School Prices. Economics of Education Review, 73. (link, pre-publication version)

Twombly, L. A., Rizzolo, D., Chen, R., & Kelchen, R. (2019). Factors That Influence Job Choice at the Time of Graduation for Physician Assistant Students. Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 30(1), 34-40. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2019). Do Nonresident Students Affect Prices for In-State Students at Public Colleges? Teachers College Record, 121(2), 1-27. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2018).Do Financial Responsibility Scores Affect Institutional Behaviors? Journal of Education Finance, 43(4), 417-439. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2018). Do Performance-Based Funding Policies Affect Underrepresented Student Enrollment? The Journal of Higher Education, 89(5), 702-727. (link, pre-publication version)

Kelchen, R., & Webber, D. A. (2018). Examining the Interstate Mobility of Recent College Graduates. Educational Researcher, 47(3), 213-215. (link)

Kramer II, D. A., Holcomb, M. R., & Kelchen, R. (2018). The Costs and Consequences of Excess Credit Hours Policies. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 40(1), 3-28. (link)

Kelchen, R., & Li, A. (2017). Institutional Accountability: A Comparison of the Predictors of Student Loan Repayment and Default Rates. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 671, 202-223. (link, pre-publication version)

Kelchen, R., Goldrick-Rab, S., & Hosch, B. (2017). The Costs of College Attendance: Examining Variation and Consistency in Institutional Living Cost Allowances. The Journal of Higher Education, 88(6), 947-971. (link, pre-publication version)

Kelchen, R. (2017). The Distributional and Cost Implications of Negative Expected Family Contributions. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 47(1), 4-24. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2017). Campus-Based Financial Aid Programs: Trends and Alternative Allocation Strategies. Educational Policy, 31(4), 448-480. (link, pre-publication version)

Kelchen, R. (2016). An Analysis of Student Fees: The Roles of States and Institutions. The Review of Higher Education, 39(4), 597-619. (link, pre-publication version)

Goldrick-Rab, S., Kelchen, R., Harris, D. N., & Benson, J. (2016). Income Inequality in Higher Education: Experimental Evidence on the Impact of Financial Aid on College Completion. American Journal of Sociology, 121(6), 1762-1817. (link, pre-publication version)

Kelchen, R. (2016). Who Enrolls in Competency-Based Education? An Examination of the Demographics and Finances of CBE Programs. The Journal of Competency-Based Education, 1(1), 48-59. (link)

Kelchen, R., & Stedrak, L. J. (2016). Does Performance-Based Funding Affect Colleges’ Financial Priorities? Journal of Education Finance, 41(3), 302-321. (link)

Magnuson, K., Kelchen, R., Duncan, G., Schindler, H., Shager, H., & Yoshikawa, H. (2016). Do the Effects of Early Childhood Education Programs Vary by Gender? Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 36, 521-536. (link)

Kelchen, R., & Goldrick-Rab, S. (2015). Accelerating College Knowledge: A Fiscal Analysis of a Targeted Early Commitment Pell Grant Program. The Journal of Higher Education, 86(2), 199-232. (paper, fiscal analysis, Monte Carlo simulation)

Kelchen, R., & Jones, G. (2015). A Simulation of Pell Grant Awards Using Prior Prior Year Financial Data. Journal of Education Finance, 40(3), 253-272. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2015). Financial Need and Income Volatility among Students with Zero Expected Family Contribution. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 44(3), 179-201. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2014). Federal College Ratings: A Primer and Potential Implications. Journal of College Admission, 225, 12-15.(link)

Book Chapters

Kelchen, R. (2023). Do Changes in State Higher Education Appropriations Affect Public Research University Productivity? P. 279-304 in J. A. Delaney (Ed.), Volatility in State Spending for Higher Education. American Educational Research Association. (link to book)

Kelchen, R., & Natow, R. S. (2023). Federal Policy and Policy Making for Higher Education. P. 235-259 in M. N. Bastedo, P. G. Altbach, & P. J. Gumport (Eds.), American Higher Education in the 21st Century: Social, Political, and Economic Challenges (5th Ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. (link to book)

Kelchen, R. (2021). University Rankings and the Third Mission of Higher Education. P. 163-170 in E. Hazelkorn & G. Mihut (Eds.), Research Handbook on University Rankings: Theory, Methodology, Influence and Impact. Edward Elgar Publishing. (link to book)

Finkelstein, M., & Kelchen, R. (2017). Higher Education Systems and Institutions, United States of America. In P. N. Texeira & J. Shin (Eds.), Encyclopedia of International Higher Education Systems and Institutions. Springer. (link to chapter)

Kelchen, R. (2016). Federal Mechanisms for Improving College Match: Information, Aid, and Accountability. P. 179-198 in A. P. Kelly, J. S. Howell, & C. Sattin-Bajaj (Eds.), Matching Students to Opportunity: Expanding College Choice, Access, and Quality. Harvard Education Press. (link to book)

Kelchen, R. (2016). Student Loans: A Brief History, the Current Landscape, and Impacts on Society. P. 173-198 in J. L. DeVitis & P. A. Sasso (Eds.), Higher Education and Society. Peter Lang. (link to book)

Goldrick-Rab, S., & Kelchen, R. (2015). Making Sense of Loan Aversion: Evidence from Wisconsin. P. 307-371 in K. Hollenbeck & B. Hershbein (Eds.), Student Loans and the Dynamics of Debt. W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. (link to book)

Research Reports

Kelchen, R., & Barrett, F. (2024). Exploring the Growth of Master’s Degree Programs in the United States. Postsecondary Equity & Economics Research Project. (link)

Levin, J., Baker, B., Lee, J., Atchison, D., & Kelchen, R. (2022). An Examination of the Costs of Texas Community Colleges. Regional Education Lab Southwest. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2022). State Funding Approaches for Public Colleges and Universities in the Midwest. Midwestern Higher Education Compact. (link)

Kelchen, R., Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., Baker, D., & Lingo, M. (2022). The Relationships between State Higher Education Funding Strategies and Student Outcomes. InformEd States. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2022). The Need for Better Data on Online Program Outcomes. (link)

Lingo, M., Kelchen, R., Rosinger, K., Baker, D., Ortagus, J., & Wu, J. (2021). The Landscape of State Funding Formulas for Public Colleges and Universities. InformEd States. (link)

Rosinger, K., Ortagus, J., Kelchen, R., & Choi, J. (2021). Exploring the Impact of Variations in State Performance Funding Policies on College Access. InformEd States. (link)

Rosinger, K., Shamekhi, Y., Choi, J., Voorhees, N., Ortagus, J., & Kelchen, R. (2021). Performance Funding for Higher Education: Current Evidence, Unanswered Questions, and How New Data Can Inform Policy. InformEd States. (link)

Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., Kelchen, R., Voorhees, N., & Chu, G. (2021). A National Analysis of the Impact of Performance-Based Funding on Completion Outcomes Among Historically Underrepresented Students. InformEd States. (link)

Conroy, E., Goldrick-Rab, S., Kelchen, R., Welton, C., & Huelsman, M. (2021). The Real Price of College: How Using the Negative Expected Family Contribution Can Better Support Students. The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. (link)

Kelchen, R., Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., & Cassell, A. (2021). The Effects of Performance-Based Funding Policies on Student Earnings. InformEd States. (link)

Blagg, K., Blom, E., Kelchen, R., & Chien, C. (2021). The Feasibility of Program-Level Accountability in Higher Education. Urban Institute. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2020). Examining the Feasibility of Empirically Predicting College Closures. Brookings Institution. (link)

Rosinger, K., Ortagus, J., Baker, D., Kelchen, R., Lingo, M., Choi, J., & Wu, J. (2020). State Snapshots of Funding for Public Colleges and Student Financial Aid: California, Florida, and Texas. InformEd States. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2020). Using Earnings Metrics for Accountability. Higher Learning Advocates. (link)

Baker, D., Rosinger, K., Ortagus, J., & Kelchen, R. (2020). Trends in State Funding for Student Financial Aid. InformEd States. (link)

Kelchen, R. Ortagus, J., Baker, D., & Rosinger, K. (2020). Trends in State Funding for Public Higher Education. InformEd States. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2020). Examining the Distribution of Negative Expected Family Contributions. National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. (link)

Blom, E., Washington, K., Rainer, M., Chien, C., & Kelchen, R. (2020). IPEDS Finance User Guide. Urban Institute. (link)

Rosinger, K., Ortagus, J., Kelchen, R., Cassell, A., & Voorhees, N. (2020). The Landscape of Performance-Based Funding in 2020. InformEd States. (link)

Kelchen, R., Ortagus, J., Rosinger, K., Brown, L., & Voorhees, N. (2019). Profiles of State Performance-Based Funding Policies: Missouri, New York, and Tennessee. InformEd States. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2018). Exploring Key Questions: Program-Level Repayment for Higher Education Accountability. Higher Learning Advocates. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2018). Adjusting COA and EFC for Living Costs. The Institute for College Access and Success. (link)

Kelchen, R., & Pingel, S. (2018). Postsecondary Tuition Capping and Freezing. Education Commission of the States. (link)

Espinosa, L. L., Kelchen, R., & Taylor, M. (2018). Minority Serving Institutions as Engines of Upward Mobility. American Council on Education. (link)

Kolbe, T., & Kelchen, R. (2017). Identifying New Metrics Using IPEDS Finance Data. National Postsecondary Education Cooperative. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2017). Higher Education Accreditation and the Federal Government. Urban Institute. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2017). Tuition Control Policies: A Challenging Approach to College Affordability. Minneapolis, MN: Midwestern Higher Education Compact. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2017). A Review of College Promise Programs: Evidence from the Midwest. Minneapolis, MN: Midwestern Higher Education Compact. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2016). Education Under Review. The Chronicle of Higher Education. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2015). Proposing a Federal Risk-Sharing Policy. Lumina Foundation. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2015). Exploring the Topic of Indirect Costs to Today’s Higher Education Students. American Council on Education.(link)

Goldrick-Rab, S., Kelchen, R., & Hosch, B. (2015). Information, Accountability, and College Costs: The Need for Standardized Living Cost Calculations in Higher Education. Wisconsin HOPE Lab. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2015). The Landscape of Competency-Based Education. American Enterprise Institute. (link)

Goldrick-Rab, S., Kelchen, R., & Houle, J. (2015). The Color of Student Debt: Implications of Federal Loan Program Reforms for Black Students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Wisconsin HOPE Lab. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2014). Moving Forward With Federal College Ratings: Goals, Metrics, and Recommendations. WISCAPE. (link)

Kelchen, R., & Jones, G. (2013). A Tale of Two Income Years: Comparing Prior-Prior Year and Prior-Year Through Pell Grant Awards. NASFAA. (link)

Goldrick-Rab, S., & Kelchen, R. (2013). No Money Left Behind: Loan Aversion and College Success among Pell Recipients. HCM Strategists. (link)

Hillman, N., Kelchen, R., & Goldrick-Rab, S. (2013). Recommendations for the Effective and Equitable Implementation of Performance-Based Funding for Wisconsin Higher Education.  WISCAPE. (link)

Kelchen, R., & Harris, D.N. (2012). Can “Value-Added” Methods Improve the Measurement of College Performance? Empirical Analyses and Policy Implications. HCM Strategists. (link)

Goldrick-Rab, S., & Kelchen, R. (2012). New Experimental Evidence on the Impacts of the Need-Based Wisconsin Scholars Grant on College Persistence. Wisconsin Scholars Longitudinal Study. (link)

Reviews and Short Pieces

Kelchen, R. (2024). The Role of State Higher Education Policy in Student Success and Equity. Journal of Postsecondary Student Success, 3(3), 4-24. (link)

Liu, Z., & Kelchen, R. (2022). Does Free College Influence  Underrepresented Student Enrollment? Teachers College Record. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2022). The Lasting Effects of the Pandemic on Graduate and Professional Education. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 51(1). (link)

Kelchen, R. (2020). Performance-Based Funding Produces Mixed Results. Education Next, 20(1), 69-74. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2019). Merging Data to Facilitate Analyses. New Directions for Institutional Research, 181, 59-72. (link, original submission)

Stedrak, L. J., & Kelchen, R. (2015). New Jersey (State of the States 2015). Journal of Education Finance, 41(2), 253-254. (link)

Kelchen, R. (2014). National Direct Student Loans/Perkins. Encyclopedia of Education Economics and Finance. D. Brewer & L. Picus (Eds.). SAGE Publications.

Kelchen, R. (2013). Review of “Getting to Graduation: The Completion Agenda in Higher Education.” Journal of Student Financial Aid, 43(1), 55-58. (link)