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.