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Community colleges and economic mobility

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  • Natalia A. Kolesnikova

Abstract

This paper examines the role of community colleges in the U.S. higher education system and their advantages and shortcomings. In particular, it discusses the population of community college students and economic returns to community college education for various demographic groups. It offers new evidence on the returns to an associate's degree. Furthermore, the paper uses data from the National Survey of College Graduates to compare educational objectives, progress, and labor market outcomes of individuals who start their postsecondary education at community colleges with those who start at four-year colleges. Particular attention is paid to the Federal Reserve's Eighth District, the geographic area served by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Suggested Citation

  • Natalia A. Kolesnikova, 2010. "Community colleges and economic mobility," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 92(Jan), pages 27-54.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedlrv:y:2010:i:jan:p:27-54:n:v.92no.1
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    File URL: https://files.stlouisfed.org/files/htdocs/publications/review/10/01/Kolesnikova.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dan Black & Natalia Kolesnikova & Lowell Taylor, 2009. "Earnings Functions When Wages and Prices Vary by Location," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 27(1), pages 21-47, January.
    2. Duane E. Leigh & Andrew M. Gill, 1997. "Labor Market Returns to Community Colleges: Evidence for Returning Adults," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 32(2), pages 334-353.
    3. Natalia A. Kolesnikova, 2009. "From community college to a bachelor's degree and beyond: How smooth is the road?," The Regional Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, issue Jul, pages 10-11.
    4. Jacobson, Louis & LaLonde, Robert & G. Sullivan, Daniel, 2005. "Estimating the returns to community college schooling for displaced workers," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 125(1-2), pages 271-304.
    5. Thomas J. Kane & Cecilia Elena Rouse, 1999. "The Community College: Educating Students at the Margin between College and Work," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 13(1), pages 63-84, Winter.
    6. Bridget Terry Long & Michal Kurlaender, 2008. "Do Community Colleges provide a Viable Pathway to a Baccalaureate Degree?," NBER Working Papers 14367, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Cecilia Elena Rouse, 1998. "Do two-year colleges increase overall educational attainment? Evidence from the states," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(4), pages 595-620.
    8. Natalia A. Kolesnikova & Luke M. Shimek, 2008. "Community colleges: not so junior anymore," The Regional Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, issue Oct, pages 6-11.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bo Zhao, 2018. "Disinvesting in the future?: a comprehensive examination of the effects of state appropriations for public higher education," Working Papers 18-1, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

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    Keywords

    Community colleges; Education;

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