Heterogeneity in Labor Market Returns to Master’s Degrees: Evidence from Ohio

Veronica Minaya (), Judith Scott-Clayton and Rachel Yang Zhou
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Veronica Minaya: Columbia University
Judith Scott-Clayton: Columbia University
Rachel Yang Zhou: Columbia University

Research in Higher Education, 2024, vol. 65, issue 5, No 1, 775-793

Abstract: Abstract Graduate education is among the fastest growing segments of the U.S. higher educational system. This paper estimates the returns to Master’s degrees and examines heterogeneity in the returns by field area, student demographics and initial labor market conditions. We use rich administrative data from Ohio and an individual fixed effects model that compares students’ earnings trajectories before and after earning a Master’s degree. Findings show that obtaining a Master’s degree increased quarterly earnings by about 14% on average, but the returns vary largely across graduate fields. We also find gender and racial disparities in the returns, with higher average returns for women than for men, and for White than for Black graduates. In addition, by comparing returns among students who graduated before and under the Great Recession, we show that economic downturns appear to reduce but not eliminate the positive returns to Master’s degrees. There are important variations in the returns to Master’s degrees during the recession across field area and race/ethnicity.

Keywords: Economic impact; Educational economics; Returns to education; Graduate education; The Great Recession (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s11162-024-09777-8

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