Way Station or Launching Pad? Unpacking the Returns to Postsecondary Vocational Programs in Tennessee

• In Event: Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Labor Market Outcomes of Postsecondary Education

Abstract

We estimate the labor market returns to postsecondary diplomas and certificates awarded by Tennessee community colleges and state-run technology centers, controlling for unobserved heterogeneity in earnings and employment productivity. All three credentials have a positive impact on employment and earnings, more so for women than men. The returns to associate’s degrees and diplomas generally grow over time, whereas the returns to certificates erode. We go on to investigate whether these sub-baccalaureate credentials help workers thrive in different industries, as well as the extent to which estimated returns are driven by regression to the mean. 

Authors

• Celeste K Carruthers, The University of Tennessee

• Thomas Sanford, St Cloud State University