Meritocratic Myth in Mind? Socioeconomic Backgrounds and Shifting Beliefs about Meritocracy among College Students in China

Sociologists have long debated the role of higher education in shaping individuals’ meritocratic beliefs, yet few studies have examined how these beliefs evolve during college years. This study addresses that gap by analyzing shifts in meritocratic beliefs among college students in China and exploring how these changes vary by socioeconomic backgrounds. Drawing on data from the Beijing College Students Panel Survey (BCSPS), we find that students’ belief in meritocracy tends to decline as they progress through college. Over time, students place less emphasis on meritocratic factors and increasingly recognize the importance of nonmeritocratic factors in their future career prospects. Notably, students from lower socioeconomic status (SES) initially view nonmeritocratic elements as less important but gradually align with their higher-SES peers in acknowledging their significance. These findings shed light on the relationship between higher education and meritocratic beliefs, revealing how students’ social origins shape their perceptions of social mobility within postsecondary institutions.