Labor market returns to sub-baccalaureate credentials: How much does a community college degree or certificate pay?

M Dadgar, MJ Trimble - Educational Evaluation and Policy …, 2015 - journals.sagepub.com
M Dadgar, MJ Trimble
Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 2015journals.sagepub.com
This study provides one of the first estimates of the returns to different types of community
college credentials—short-term certificates, long-term certificates, and associate degrees—
across different fields of study. We exploit a rich data set that includes matched, longitudinal
college transcripts and Unemployment Insurance records for students who entered a
Washington State community college in 2001–2002. Our findings based on an individual
fixed effect model suggest that earning an associate degree or a long-term certificate is …
This study provides one of the first estimates of the returns to different types of community college credentials—short-term certificates, long-term certificates, and associate degrees—across different fields of study. We exploit a rich data set that includes matched, longitudinal college transcripts and Unemployment Insurance records for students who entered a Washington State community college in 2001–2002. Our findings based on an individual fixed effect model suggest that earning an associate degree or a long-term certificate is associated with increased wages, particularly for women. We find that there is greater variation in returns to wages by the field of study than by degree type.
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