Reviews evidence on the economic benefits of postsecondary education below the baccalaureate degree, based on results using state Unemployment Insurance wage record data. In general, the results indicate substantial benefits for many kinds of postsecondary education, particularly when individuals complete programs and enroll in certain…

Reviews the available evidence on the economic benefits of postsecondary education below the level of the baccalaureate degree, concentrating on the effects of community colleges. Results indicate substantial benefits for many kinds of postsecondary education. However, the economic benefits of small amounts of coursework are often zero and at best…

New data on the economic benefits of attainment of a bachelor's degree, based on some corrections in statistical analyses of national longitudinal data, are reported. Results and conclusions did not change substantially, with substantial variations found among fields of study but not across institution types. (MSE)

Based on data from the National Longitudinal Study of the Class of 1972, this study confirmed the financial value of the baccalaureate degree, in comparison with the high school diploma, and well-known differences in income to graduates by field of study. Differences by type of higher education institution were relatively smaller. (Author/MSE)

Employers often use education and other ability measures as indicators of unmeasured ability dimensions. This paper presents tests of signaling, relying on differences in earnings functions for salaried individuals in screened occupations versus self-employed individuals in unscreened positions. Vocational associate degrees and high school grades…

The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) was used to compare estimates of the benefits of education among different levels of education and thereby identify the returns to education and training in the subbaccalaureate labor market. The study data consisted of information on the educational attainment and income of 14,537 (7,981…

Using two nationally representative and longitudinal data sets, a study was conducted to examine trends in transfer from community colleges to four-year colleges. These data sets followed the high school classes of 1972 and 1980 into postsecondary education. A comparison of the educational outcomes of the two cohorts of students revealed the…