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Driven to Achieve: 40 Years of Evidence on College Students’ Skills and Aspirations

Author

Listed:
  • Margaret Leighton

    (University of St Andrews)

  • Jamin D Speer

    (University of Memphis)

Abstract

The past half century has seen dramatic changes in college enrolment. In this paper, we document how the skills and aspirations of college students have also changed. Using over 40 years of data on incoming college freshmen, we establish three key facts. First, students’ goals have shifted away from the philosophical (e.g., finding meaning in life) towards the tangible (e.g., financial and family outcomes). Second, the share of students who are both of high ability and have high aspirations for tangible goals has risen steadily, with a particular increase in the 1970s and 1980s. Third, this rise is mirrored by a fall in students who, while quite strong academically, place low weight on life goals such as financial success, raising a family, or helping others.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret Leighton & Jamin D Speer, 2025. "Driven to Achieve: 40 Years of Evidence on College Students’ Skills and Aspirations," Economics Discussion Papers 2502, Department of Economics, The University of St Andrews Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:san:econdp:2502
    as

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    File URL: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~wwwecon/repecfiles/econdp/2502.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Claudia Goldin & Lawrence F. Katz & Ilyana Kuziemko, 2006. "The Homecoming of American College Women: The Reversal of the College Gender Gap," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 20(4), pages 133-156, Fall.
    2. John Bound & Michael F. Lovenheim & Sarah Turner, 2010. "Why Have College Completion Rates Declined? An Analysis of Changing Student Preparation and Collegiate Resources," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 129-157, July.
    3. Jeffrey T. Denning & Eric R. Eide & Kevin J. Mumford & Richard W. Patterson & Merrill Warnick, 2022. "Why Have College Completion Rates Increased?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 1-29, July.
    4. Joseph G. Altonji & Prashant Bharadwaj & Fabian Lange, 2012. "Changes in the Characteristics of American Youth: Implications for Adult Outcomes," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 30(4), pages 783-828.
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    Keywords

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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
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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