Education Pays Off!
The Center for Public Education just released the third and final part of their Path Least Taken Series
They conducted the research because they noticed a lot of attention and resources had been poured into making sure students graduated ready to enter college, but not necessarily the workforce. Here is the link to Part 1: http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/pathleasttaken
While each of these factors had a positive effect most of the time, they were especially powerful in combination. They coined this winning formula “high credentialed.” Compared to their peers, who lacked any of these characteristics, the high credentialed non-college goers achieved comparable, and sometimes, better employment and social outcomes.
Clearly, this mix of knowledge and job specific skill sets was an effective combination but what wasn’t clear was just how much. In Part II, where they’d introduced the concept of high credentialed, they’d made no distinction between those who attended a two- or four-year institution (trade schools are not included in this list) or between those who obtained a degree and didn’t.
Amongst the three college going groups, no one enjoyed a greater likelihood of success than four-year degree holders, pulling in dramatically higher wages and contributing much more to retirement than the average non-college goer by the age of 26.
What’s more, the head start that high credentials brings appears to have helped graduates no matter where they ended up in life.
In every category except four-year degree holders, high credentialed high school graduates earned higher wages and benefits and achieved greater job stability and satisfaction than their peers who lacked this preparation.
What educators and policymakers should know
High level math and science courses are not just for college goers
Advanced math and science courses are not just essential for getting into and succeeding in college; they are the most important for non-college goers, who best the average non-college goers by double digits in every category of what we determined to be “success.”
Vocational training should focus on specific job skills
Completing an assortment of vocational courses does not provide students with the job skills they need to be successful after high school. Vocational courses should focus on a specific labor market area just as selecting a major does in college.
Vocational courses are not just for non-college goers
Most high school graduates would benefit from completing vocational courses even if they intend on going to college, as nearly half of college goers fail to earn a two- or four-year degree. Without earning a degree, college goers are far less likely to find success—while carrying an increased debt burden—if they hadn’t acquired specific job skills.
Vocational courses would benefit future college grads, too, as more four-year degree holders are heading back to two-year colleges to obtain more specific job skills.
Helping students map out their future is key to their success
Counselors play a critical role by communicating the varied post-secondary options to middle- and high-school students and helping them stay on track toward meeting their individual goals.