Using the theory and methods of economics, Dr. Long studies the transition from secondary to higher education and beyond. Her work has focused on college access and choice, factors that influence college student outcomes, and the behavior of postsecondary institutions. Past projects have examined the effects of financial aid programs, the impact of postsecondary remediation, and the influence of class size and faculty characteristics on student persistence. Current projects include an aid simplification study, analysis of the growing gender gap in college enrollment, and research on community colleges.