Table 4 Logistic regression results for perceived abilities and academic interests on STEM major choice

Dependent variable

 STEM degree attainment

Perceived abilities

 Perceived mathematical ability

0.48*** (0.11)

1.62

0.46*** (0.12)

1.58

 Perceived scientific ability

0.47*** (0.10)

1.61

0.43*** (0.10)

1.53

Academic interests

 Math interest

0.21*(0.08)

1.23

0.07 (0.10)

1.07

 Science interest

0.29* (0.11)

1.30

0.12 (0.12)

1.12

Student characteristics

 Gender (Reference = Boys)

  Girls

− 0.89*** (0.10)

0.41

− 1.00*** (0.09)

0.36

− 0.90*** (0.10)

0.041

 Race/ethnicity (Reference = White)

  Asian

0.58** (0.18)

1.49

0.39* (0.19)

1.47

0.39* (0.18)

1.48

  Black

0.06 (0.15)

1.04

0.03 (0.17)

1.03

0.03 (0.16)

1.03

  Latina/o/x

0.22 (0.12)

1.24

0.20 (0.13)

1.22

0.20 (0.13)

1.23

  Multiple and other race

0.08 (0.14)

1.22

0.18 (0.14)

1.19

0.12 (0.15)

1.13

 Family characteristics

  Family income

− 0.01 (0.02)

0.99

− 0.00 (0.02)

1.00

− 0.01 (0.15)

0.99

  Parental college degree

0.10 (0.10)

1.10

0.12 (0.09)

1.12

0.07 (0.09)

1.11

  Father’s occupation (STEM)

0.16 (0.09)

1.18

0.20* (0.09)

1.22

0.16 (0.09)

1.18

  Mother’s occupation (STEM)

0.10 (0.10)

1.11

0.13 (0.10)

1.14

0.11 (0.10)

1.11

 Student preparation and observed ability in high school

  Highest HS mathematics course

0.16 (0.11)

1.17

0.17 (0.11)

1.19

0.16 (0.11)

1.17

  Highest HS science course

0.54*** (0.07)

1.72

0.57*** (0.07)

1.78

0.54*** (0.07)

1.71

  HS math course GPA

0.06 (0.12)

1.07

0.14 (0.10)

1.15

0.07 (0.12)

1.07

  HS science course GPA

0.23 (0.13)

1.26

0.30* (0.13)

1.34

0.23 (0.13)

1.26

School characteristics

 High school type (Reference = Public)

  Catholic

− 0.13 (0.11)

0.87

− 0.19 (0.11)

0.82

− 0.14 (0.11)

0.87

  Other private

− 0.61*** (0.12)

0.54

− 0.68*** (0.12)

0.51

− 0.62*** (0.12)

0.54

 College type first attended

  Two-year college

− 0.16 (0.11)

0.85

− 0.17 (0.11)

0.85

− 0.16 (0.11)

0.85

 High school location (Reference = Urban)

  Suburban

− 0.04 (0.10)

0.96

− 0.04 (0.10)

0.96

− 0.04 (0.10)

0.96

  Town

0.08 (0.15)

1.09

0.05 (0.15)

1.05

0.08 (0.15)

1.09

  Rural

− 0.17 (0.11)

0.85

− 0.20 (0.11)

0.82

− 0.17 (0.11)

0.85

Classroom characteristics

 Math teacher

− 0.04 (0.09)

0.96

− 0.01 (0.10)

0.99

− 0.09 (0.11)

0.93

 Science teacher

− 0.02 (0.11)

0.97

− 0.15 (0.10)

0.94

− 0.10 (0.11)

0.91

Constant

− 0.01***

− 3.91***

− 6.02***

 F test

26.11***

19.09***

24.26***

 Sample N

11,560

11,560

11,560

 Population N

2,713,260

2,713,260

2,713,260