Rich Grad, Poor Grad: Family Background and College Major Choice

Arbeitspapier

Expected earnings matter for college major choices, and majors differ in both their average earnings and the age profile of their earnings. We show that students' family background is strongly related to the earnings paths of the major they choose. Students with more educated parents, especially those who have graduate degrees, choose majors with lower early-career earnings but much faster earnings growth. They are also less likely to choose safe majors with little early-career earnings or unemployment downside. Parental income has a weaker relationship with major choice and operates mostly through the type of institution the student attends.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 16099

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Analysis of Education ; Higher Education; Research Institutions
• Subject: college major ; family background

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Leighton, Margaret ; Speer, Jamin D.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2023

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/272726
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET