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The Labor Market Value of Community College Bachelor's Degrees: Initial Evidence from a Resume Audit Study in Early Childhood Education

Author

Listed:
  • Acton, Riley

    (Miami University)

  • Morales, Camila

    (University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Turner, Julia

    (Northwestern University)

  • Miller, Lois

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Cortes, Kalena

    (Texas A&M University)

Abstract

Despite most community college students intending to earn a bachelor's degree, few successfully transfer and complete one. Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) programs offer an alternative by allowing community colleges to confer bachelor's degrees directly, yet little is known about how employers value these credentials. We address this question with the first resume audit study of CCB degrees, submitting fictitious applications to real job vacancies while experimentally varying applicants' credentials, institutions, and demographics. This pilot focuses on the early childhood education (ECE) labor market, a growing CCB field marked by labor shortages and rising educational requirements. We find that employers view CCB degrees similarly to traditional bachelor's and associate degrees, with statistically indistinguishable interview-request rates. Callback text shows little evidence of differential employer responses, while a net-price simulation suggests sticker-price comparisons overstate CCB affordability. These findings provide new evidence on the labor market value and affordability of CCB degrees and inform an ongoing audit study across additional fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Acton, Riley & Morales, Camila & Turner, Julia & Miller, Lois & Cortes, Kalena, 2026. "The Labor Market Value of Community College Bachelor's Degrees: Initial Evidence from a Resume Audit Study in Early Childhood Education," IZA Discussion Papers 18786, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18786
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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