The Labor-Market Returns to Community College Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates

Christopher Jepsen, Kenneth Troske and Paul Coomes

Journal of Labor Economics, 2014, vol. 32, issue 1, 95 - 121

Abstract: This article provides one of the first rigorous estimations of the labor-market returns to community college certificates and diplomas, as well as estimations of the returns to the more commonly studied associate's degrees. Using administrative data from Kentucky, we estimate panel-data models that control for differences among students in precollege earnings and educational aspirations. Associate's degrees and diplomas have quarterly earnings returns of nearly $2,400 for women and $1,500 for men, compared with much smaller returns for certificates. There is substantial heterogeneity in returns across fields of study. Degrees, diplomas, and--for women--certificates correspond with higher levels of employment.

Date: 2014
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Related works:
Working Paper: The labor-market returns to community college degrees, diplomas, and certificates (2014)
Working Paper: The Labor-Market Returns to Community College Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates (2012)
Working Paper: The labor-market returns to community college degrees, diplomas and certificates (2012)
Working Paper: The Labor-Market Returns to Community College Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates (2012)
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