The Occupational Achievements of Community and Four-Year College Entrants

The occupational effects of community college vs. four-year college attendance are examined for a sample of young men and women drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experiences. The type of college entered shapes adult occupational status after controlling for years of education, mental ability, completion of B.A. degree, and other background variables. Compared to four-year college entrance, community college entrance for women depreciates the occupational return to each year of education. The more education a woman obtains, the more important type offirst college becomes.