Pathways to Boosting the Earnings of Low-Income Students by Increasing Their Educational Attainment
Published Date: January 1, 2009
This study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, seeks to identify education pathways to high-paying careers and the extent to which economic mobility is contingent upon students’ educational preparation and performance. This study uses comprehensive data on high school, postsecondary, and workforce experiences of every grade 9 student in Florida public schools in 1996. Key findings include:
- Higher levels of postsecondary degrees are associated with higher earnings. However, certificates from two-year colleges also lead to well-paid careers, particularly among low-performing students.
- Professional and health-related academic concentrations are associated with high earnings among all degree programs. For students with degrees from four-year colleges, concentrations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics tend to be the most lucrative.
- High school preparation and performance are key predictors of postsecondary persistence and degree attainment. High-performing students are also the most likely to select concentrations associated with high post-college earnings.
