The labour market returns to "some" college: Ambiguous credentials and inequality in early careers

While nearly 40% of entrants into bachelor’s degree (BA)-granting colleges in the United States do not earn BAs within six years – yielding 2 million people considered “dropouts” each year – limited research examines the labour market returns to unfinished BAs.

To what extent, and for whom, might earning some BA college yield labor market advantages?

Christina proposes that unfinished BAs serve as "ambiguous credentials" in the labour market, where their value varies substantially based on clearer markers of potential worker productivity such as sub-baccalaureate degree attainment, college selectivity, and both social and cultural capital.

The research investigates the payoffs to some BA college in early career wages and occupational prestige. It finds that those with some BA college do not experience a wage advantage over those with no BA college during the early career period, but they do achieve an advantage in occupational prestige. In addition, the prestige advantage varies by prior attendance at associate’s degree (AA)-granting colleges and AA attainment, net of entry into BA colleges, and is concentrated among those who attend selective or very selective colleges.

This event will be particularly useful for researchers, policymakers and teachers.

Related links

• QSS and CLS seminar series
• Quantitative Social Science
• Centre for Longitudinal Studies
• Social Research Institute

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