The Value of an Incomplete Degree: Heterogeneity in Labor Market Benefits of College Noncompletion

• In Event: 63.039 - Nuances in Pathways to Postcollege Labor Market Outcomes

Abstract

Many students start higher education but do not complete a credential. Moreover, some researchers report that attending college without completing a credential fails to improve one’s employment chances or post-college earnings, a wasted effort. Analyzing data for a statewide cohort of high school graduates from Texas, comparing post-college employment and earnings for those who do not go on to college with outcomes just for college non-completers, we find substantially better employment rates and earnings for non-completers, including for economically-disadvantaged and minority subpopulations.

Authors

• Paul Attewell, City College of New York - CUNY

• Matt Giani, The University of Texas at Austin

• David Walling, The University of Texas at Austin