Why Do Colleges Want to Know about Parent's Education Level?

I'm filling out college applications, and I'm unsure why they ask about my parent's education levels. Does it play a big role in the admissions decision? I'm trying to see how much this part of the application affects things.

From the perspective of colleges and universities, understanding the educational background of your parents can provide additional context about your upbringing and the resources available to you throughout your educational journey.

First and foremost, if you're a first-generation college student, where neither of your parents earned a bachelor's degree, this would factor into your application review. Colleges and universities often consider this because first-generation students may have faced unique challenges and lack the mentorship or guidance that parents with college experience might provide. These students can bring a unique perspective and resilience to a college campus, which schools value.

Secondly, the level of your parent's education might indirectly affect your learning environment at home. For example, parents with advanced degrees might have established an academically-oriented environment and exposed their child to a broader range of experiences or career paths. However, colleges aren't judging your parents' level of education as a reflection of your own abilities or ambitions.

Lastly, parent education level is part of how colleges understand an applicant's context. This data, alongside other information like where you went to high school and your family income, helps admission officers understand more about the opportunities and challenges you've faced.

But to be clear, your parent's education level won't determine whether or not you get admitted into college. Your own achievements, academic performance, essays, and extracurricular involvement play a significantly larger role in the admissions decision.