Publications
The Labor Market Returns to Math Courses in Community College
Using matched college transcript and earnings data on over 80,000 students entering community college during the 2000s, this CAPSEE working paper examines the returns to math courses.
What About the Non-Completers? The Labor Market Returns to Progress in Community College
Using a novel method for linking non-completers with completers, this paper calculates the labor market returns to programs of study, accounting both for those who obtain an award and those who do not.
The Medium-Term Labor Market Returns to Community College Awards: Evidence From North Carolina
In this study, the authors examine medium-term returns to diplomas, certificates, and degrees for first-time college students who enrolled in the North Carolina Community College System in 2002–03.
Labor Market Returns to Sub-Baccalaureate Credentials: How Much Does a Community College Degree or Certificate Pay?
This study provides one of the first estimates of the returns to different types of community college credentials across different fields of study.
The Economic Benefits of Attaining an Associate Degree Before Transfer: Evidence From North Carolina
Using data on credit accumulation, award receipt, and earnings, this paper examines whether it is better for students to earn an associate degree before transferring to a four-year college.
Community College Occupational Degrees: Are They Worth It?
Thomas Bailey and Clive Belfield consider the role of community colleges, with particular attention to the benefits to workers (as measured by earnings) of certificates and degrees by field of study.
Structure in Community College Career-Technical Programs: A Qualitative Analysis
This study examines the structure of community college career-technical programs and its association with program completion.
Bridging College and Careers: Using Dual Enrollment to Enhance Career and Technical Education Pathways
This NCPR working paper compares outcomes of students who participated in dual enrollment courses through the Concurrent Courses Initiative with those of similar students who did not participate.
Employer Perceptions of Associate Degrees in Local Labor Markets: A Case Study of the Employment of Information Technology Technicians in Detroit and Seattle
Based on fieldwork in two distinct labor markets, this paper compares how associate and bachelor's degrees are perceived by employers seeking to hire IT technicians.
What Explains Trends in Labor Supply Among U.S. Undergraduates, 1970-2009?
This National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper examines working patterns among traditional-age college students from 1970–2009, considers several explanations for the long-term trend of rising employment, and examines whether the upward trend is likely to resume when economic conditions improve.
Institutional Variation in Credential Completion: Evidence From Washington State Community and Technical Colleges
This paper uses administrative data from Washington State to compare the outcomes of young career-technical students across both technical colleges and comprehensive community colleges
How I-BEST Works: Findings From a Field Study of Washington State's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program
The I-BEST program at Washington State's community and technical colleges integrates basic skills education with vocational training and has increased completion rates for participating students.
The Benefits of Attending Community College: A Review of the Evidence
This article reviews the existing literature on the economic and other benefits of attending community college and considers the methodological challenges associated with calculating earnings gains from attending a community college.
The Role of Community College Education in the Employment of Information Technology Workers in Washington State
Using data on students in Washington State who pursued IT coursework at community colleges and then entered the labor market, this paper presents findings on the employment outcomes of IT students by the type of preparation they completed, and on the types of employers that hired these students.
Washington State's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (I-BEST): New Evidence of Effectiveness
CCRC examined educational and labor market outcomes of participants in I-BEST, which aims to help adult basic skills students succeed in postsecondary occupational education and training.
Using State Data to Promote Continuous Improvement of Workforce Programs: Guidance for States Preparing Applications to the U.S. DOL Workforce Data Quality Initiative
This brief describes how state workforce agencies can link education and workforce data to monitor how well their education and workforce development investments are meeting labor market needs.
Human Resource Development and Career and Technical Education in American Community Colleges
Prepared for a Human Resources Development Group Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), this paper discusses a range of issues relevant to the community college mission of helping prepare a skilled workforce for jobs offering reasonable wages.
Counting the Hidden Assets: First Steps in Assessing the Impact of Community College Noncredit Education Programs on the Workforce and Local Economies
This paper makes the case for the training hour as the basic unit of measurement for noncredit workforce education programs and proposes a taxonomy of community college noncredit activities.
The Outlook for Noncredit Workforce Education
Drawing on a national review of state policies and case studies of 20 community colleges, this article examines trends in noncredit courses connected with workforce instruction and contract training.
American Community Colleges in the Downturn
This article elaborates on the increased importance of community colleges in training, retraining, and providing higher education in the recent economic downturn.