Computer Science for All? The Impact of High School Computer Science Courses on College Majors and Earnings

Arbeitspapier

This study provides the first causal analysis of the impact of expanding Computer Science (CS) education in U.S. K-12 schools on students' choice of college major and early career outcomes. Utilizing rich longitudinal data from Maryland, we exploit variation from the staggered rollout of CS course offerings across high schools. Our findings suggest that taking a CS course increases students' likelihood of declaring a CS major by 10 percentage points and receiving a CS BA degree by 5 percentage points. Additionally, access to CS coursework raises students' likelihood of being employed and early career earnings. Notably, students who are female, low socioeconomic status, or Black experience larger benefits in terms of CS degree attainment and earnings. However, the lower take-up rates of these groups in CS courses highlight a pressing need for targeted efforts to enhance their participation as policymakers continue to expand CS curricula in K-12 education.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 16758

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Higher Education; Research Institutions ; Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity ; National Government Expenditures and Education
• Subject: computer science ; STEM ; high school curricula ; college major choice ; earnings

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Liu, Jing ; Conrad, Cameron ; Blazar, David
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2024

Further information

• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET