Some Factors in Obtaining Postgraduate Education

Present trends in American society indicate an increasing need for persons with graduate and professional degrees. This study examines the roles of sex, time of marriage, socioeconomic status background, and academic ability in determining who intends and who obtains postgraduate education. Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of undergraduates from a major university. Men were found to be more likely than women to obtain graduate or professional education. For men, high academic ability was the primary factor in determining who obtained postgraduate education; for women, a late marriage, low socioeconomic status and high ability were about equally associated with obtaining postgraduate education. Both college women and low status college men were relatively unable to anticipate their eventual educational attainments.