Way Station or Launching Pad? Unpacking the Returns to Postsecondary Adult Education

Celeste K. Carruthers () and Thomas Sanford ()
Additional contact information
Celeste K. Carruthers: Department of Economics, University of Tennessee, http://web.utk.edu/~ccarrut1/
Thomas Sanford: Minnesota Office of Higher Education

No 2015-02, Working Papers from University of Tennessee, Department of Economics

Abstract: We estimate near-term returns to postsecondary diplomas, certificates, and associate's degrees awarded to adult students by Tennessee community colleges and public technology centers. We find that sub-baccalaureate credentials increase access to new industries, particularly health, and that changing industries explains 20 percent of the returns to postsecondary diplomas, 58 percent of the returns to associate's degrees, and at least 72 percent of the return to certificates. Benefits do not appear to be limited to the signal value of completion: students who leave without a credential realize wage gains over matched non-students with a similar history of earnings.

JEL-codes: I21 I28 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 43 pages
Date: 2015-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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