A study examined the costs, outcomes, and administrative structure of the Job Corps program. Information obtained from the Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Job Corps and discussions with DOL officials was used to study the structure of the Job Corps program, cost differences between Job Corps centers run by contractors and Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), outcomes for students trained by national sole-source contractors, and sole-source contractors' hiring of students. The study established that the Job Corps' administrative structure has not changed substantially since 1986 and that 108 Job Corps centers in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are currently providing basic education, vocational training, and other services to economically disadvantaged youth in residential settings. In 1991, the cost per training slot at CCCs was higher than that at contractor-operated centers ($17,602 versus $15,835). Youths completing training at CCCs were slightly more likely to be placed in jobs than were youth receiving training at contract centers, and CCC students received higher starting wages ($6.50/hour) than did other students ($5.45/hour). Few students were hired by center operators after completing training; however, union contractors helped place 16% of their students in apprenticeships. (MN)