Beyond The One-Size-Fits-All College Degree

James Rosenbaum, Kennan Cepa, and Janet Rosenbaum examine how commonplace assumptions about higher education limit opportunity.

Do certificates and AAs have higher payoffs than high school diplomas?

Job Rewards Certificate AA BA
Linear Regression
Earnings No Yes Yes
Job status Yes Yes Yes
Autonomy Yes Yes Yes
Variety No Yes Yes
Poisson Regression
Career relevant Yes Yes Yes
Career preparation Yes Yes Yes
Health benefits No Yes Yes
Vacation benefits No Yes Yes
Day shift No Yes Yes
Irregular hours No Yes Yes
Strenuous jobs No Yes Yes