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Way Station or Launching Pad? Unpacking the Returns to Postsecondary Adult Education

Author

Listed:
  • Celeste K. Carruthers

    (Department of Economics, University of Tennessee)

  • Thomas Sanford

    (Minnesota Office of Higher Education)

Abstract

We estimate near-term returns to postsecondary diplomas, certificates, and associate's degrees awarded to adult students by Tennessee community colleges and public technology centers. We find that sub-baccalaureate credentials increase access to new industries, particularly health, and that changing industries explains 20 percent of the returns to postsecondary diplomas, 58 percent of the returns to associate's degrees, and at least 72 percent of the return to certificates. Benefits do not appear to be limited to the signal value of completion: students who leave without a credential realize wage gains over matched non-students with a similar history of earnings.

Suggested Citation

  • Celeste K. Carruthers & Thomas Sanford, 2015. "Way Station or Launching Pad? Unpacking the Returns to Postsecondary Adult Education," Working Papers 2015-02, University of Tennessee, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ten:wpaper:2015-02
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Böckerman, Petri & Haapanen, Mika & Jepsen, Christopher, 2015. "Back to School? Labor-Market Returns to Vocational Postsecondary Education," IZA Discussion Papers 9079, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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