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The Earnings Effect Of Education At Community Colleges

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  • DAVE E. MARCOTTE

Abstract

In this paper, I make use of data from the 2000 follow‐up of the National Education Longitudinal Survey postsecondary education transcript files to extend what is known about the value of education at community colleges. I examine the effects of enrollment in community colleges on students' subsequent earnings. I estimate the effects of credits earned separately from credentials because community colleges are often used as a means for students to engage in study not necessarily leading to a degree or certificate. I find consistent evidence of wage and salary effects of both credits and degrees, especially for women. There is no substantial evidence that enrollment in vocational rather than academic coursework has a particularly beneficial effect, however. (JEL I2, J24)

Suggested Citation

  • Dave E. Marcotte, 2010. "The Earnings Effect Of Education At Community Colleges," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 28(1), pages 36-51, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:28:y:2010:i:1:p:36-51
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7287.2009.00173.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Holzer, Harry J. & Dunlop Velez, Erin, 2013. "Just the Facts, Ma'am: Postsecondary Education and Labor Market Outcomes in the U.S," IZA Discussion Papers 7319, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Pamela Blumenthal & Harold L. Wolman & Edward Hill, 2009. "Understanding the Economic Performance of Metropolitan Areas in the United States," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 46(3), pages 605-627, March.
    3. Dave E. Marcotte, 2019. "The Returns to Education at Community Colleges: New Evidence from the Education Longitudinal Survey," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 14(4), pages 523-547, Fall.
    4. Geoff Mason, 2014. "Skills and training for a more innovation-intensive economy," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 431, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    5. Manuel S. González Canché, 2020. "Community College Students Who Attained a 4-Year Degree Accrued Lower Student Loan Debt than 4-Year Entrants Over 2 Decades: Is a 10 Percent Debt Accumulation Reduction Worth the Added “Risk”? If So, ," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 61(7), pages 871-915, November.
    6. d’Astous, Philippe & Shore, Stephen H., 2024. "Programs of study and earnings dynamics," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Celeste K. Carruthers & Christopher Jepsen, 2020. "Vocational Education: An International Perspective," CESifo Working Paper Series 8718, CESifo.
    8. Peter Riley Bahr & Claire A. Boeck & Yiran Chen & Paula Clasing-Manquian, 2024. "Less is more, or is it? Age and Gender Differences in How Students Build Momentum toward College Graduation," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 65(8), pages 1771-1803, December.
    9. Liu, Vivian Y.T. & Belfield, Clive R. & Trimble, Madeline J., 2015. "The medium-term labor market returns to community college awards: Evidence from North Carolina," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 42-55.
    10. Chung, Anna, 2008. "The Effects of For-Profit College Training on Earnings," MPRA Paper 18972, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised May 2009.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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