Working Paper: NBER ID: w19135
Authors: Kevin Lang; Russell Weinstein
Abstract: Using the Beginning Postsecondary Student Survey and Transcript Data, we find no statistically significant differential return to certificate or Associate's degrees between for-profits and not-for-profits. Point estimates suggest a slightly lower return to a for-profit certificate and a slightly higher return to a for-profit Associate's degree, largely because more students at not-for-profits earn a BA, making them less likely to have only an Associate's degree. There is considerable variation in the return to certificates/degrees across majors, including many with negligible or negative returns. Differences across fields are large relative to differences across institution types.
Keywords: forprofit education; notforprofit education; labor market returns; certificates; associates degrees
JEL Codes: I23; J3
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| forprofit institutions (L39) | returns to certifications (Y10) |
| notforprofit institutions (L39) | returns to certifications (Y10) |
| forprofit institutions (L39) | lower return to certificate (G12) |
| forprofit institutions (L39) | higher return to associate degree (I26) |
| notforprofit institutions (L39) | bachelor's degree attainment (I24) |
| major concentration (Y80) | differential return to associate degree (I26) |
| returns to certifications (Y10) | variation across majors (D29) |
| returns to certifications (Y10) | preentry differences among students (I24) |
| preentry characteristics (L26) | observed differences in earnings (J31) |