Expanded Contraceptive Access Linked To Increase In College Completion Among Women In Colorado

Area of Science:

• Public health
• Sociology
• Economics

Background:

• Public subsidies for contraception are often justified by presumed benefits to women's lives.
• Contemporary evidence supporting these claims is limited.
• The Colorado Family Planning Initiative (CFPI) expanded access to contraception in 2009.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the CFPI on college completion rates among women.
• To determine if increased access to contraception influences higher education attainment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized eleven years of American Community Survey data.
• Linked survey data with information from two decennial censuses.
• Assessed the association between exposure to the CFPI during high school ages and subsequent college completion.

Main Results:

• Exposure to the CFPI was associated with a 1.8-3.5 percentage point increase in on-time bachelor's degree attainment.
• This represents a 6-12% increase in degree attainment compared to earlier cohorts.
• The findings indicate a positive population-level effect on women's educational outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Policies affecting contraceptive access can influence women's higher education attainment.
• The CFPI demonstrates a tangible link between family planning access and improved educational outcomes.
• Federal and state policies on contraception have broader societal implications beyond reproductive health.