How Institutional Identity Shapes College Student Recruitment
The Relationship Between Religious Distinctiveness and Market Demand
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2807963 |
|---|---|
| Authors | P Jesse Rine (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, corresponding author), Joshua Travis Brown (0000-0002-3052-7036, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, corresponding author), James M Hunter (Conference Board, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 133-159 |
| Publication date | 2021-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Economics and Sociology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-9246 • E-ISSN: 1536-7150 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/ajes.12375 |
| OpenAlex | W3150668674 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 22 |
Institutional diversity has long been recognized as a signature strength of the American system of higher education, yet the sector contributing most to this remarkable feature-small and midsized private colleges-currently finds itself under significant financial pressure as a result of recent social and economic disruptions. To overcome such challenges, campus leaders must understand the market positioning of the institutions they serve. This article investigates the relationship between market demand and organizational distinctiveness within one segment of the diverse private sector-religiously affiliated colleges. It draws upon longitudinal data from the membership of one national professional association, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, to develop an empirical typology of institutional religious distinctiveness and examine patterns of market demand over time. Results suggest that religious distinctiveness has a medium effect on student demand at both the application and matriculation phases of the admissions process. The article concludes by considering appropriate recruitment strategies for faith-based colleges and universities depending on their degree of religious distinctiveness
Business · Diversity (politics) · Identity (music) · Matriculation · Optimal distinctiveness theory · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Typology · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Law · Marketing · Psychology · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development · Social Psychology
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The Changing Selectivity of American Colleges
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |