Do the Returns to Community Colleges Differ between Academic and Vocational Programs?

This paper provides new evidence about the payoffs to community colleges’ terminal training programs as distinct from their traditional transfer function. Using NLSY data, we offer three main findings. First, fouryear college graduates who started at a community college are not at a substantial earnings disadvantage relative to those who started at a fouryear college. Second, community college students in terminal training programs enjoy a positive payoff comparable to that received by four-year college starters who do not graduate. Finally, we find evidence of positive self-selection for community college students who choose the terminal training track.