The Moderating Influence of College Major on Economic Attainment Following Graduation

• In Event: Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: From Higher Education to the Workforce

Abstract

Using early career earnings as an initial indicator of status attainment following college graduation, the study contributes new evidence on the associations between college major, students’ ascribed backgrounds and education achievements, responding to calls from educational stakeholders that colleges and universities be held accountable to graduates’ career and economic outcomes. ELS:2002/12 data were utilized to examine the moderating influence of major field of study on earnings and the extent to which students’ background differences and aspects of the college experience differentially influence early career earnings based on major field of study. Results highlight significant moderating influence of major, with implications for understanding the socioeconomic influence of a college degree and broader notions of merit.

Authors

• Gregory C. Wolniak, New York University

• Mark E. Engberg, Loyola University Chicago