Data and Code for: "Semesters or Quarters? The Effect of the Academic Calendar on Postsecondary Student Outcomes"

There exists a long-standing debate in higher education on which academic calendar is optimal. Using panel data on the near universe of four-year nonprofit institutions and leveraging quasi-experimental variation in calendars across institutions and years, we show switching from quarters to semesters negatively impacts on-time graduation rates. Event study analyses show the negative effects persist beyond the transition. Using transcript data, we replicate this analysis at the student-level and investigate possible mechanisms. Shifting to a semester: (1) lowers first-year grades; (2) decreases the probability of enrolling in a full course load; and (3) delays the timing of major choice.