Estimates of Earnings Returns by Field of Study for For-Profit Schools and Community Colleges

Arbeitspapier

This paper estimates labor-market returns for students pursuing certificates or associate's degrees in eight broad fields of study at community colleges and for-profit institutions. The data contain 400,000 students beginning their studies between 2005 and 2012 in one state. We estimate two-step models to address recent econometric concerns with two-way fixed effects models. Our analyses show important differences in return by field, with similar patterns for for-profit schools and community colleges. Apart from those studying in health fields, returns are generally greater for those attending for-profit schools than those attending community colleges. Higher estimated overall returns for for-profit schools are not primarily due to differences in areas of study.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 10754

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity ; Returns to Education
• Subject: postsecondary education ; labor-market returns ; for-profit schools

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Jepsen, Christopher ; Mueser, Peter ; Troske, Kenneth ; Jeon, Kyung-Seong
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2023

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/282442
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET