Career and Technical Education as Pathways: Factors Influencing Postcollege Earnings of Selected Career Clusters

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between student characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, program of study, degree completion, and earnings outcomes for students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs within the business, information technology (IT), and marketing career clusters in community colleges to determine which variables lead to improved earnings for these students. It draws upon data from the Iowa Department of Education (IDE), Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), and the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). The study found that gender has the strongest influence on earnings for all three of the career clusters, with women earning less in all three. However, this plays out differently between the three clusters. Women who complete degrees in business and marketing earn less even than men who enroll in these programs without completing degrees. However, women who complete associate degrees in IT have an increase in earnings that is higher than that of men and have fifth year earnings that approach those of men. Completion of associate degrees had a positive influence on earnings for marketing and IT, but did not have a significant impact on earnings for the business cluster. The article concludes by addressing implications for research, policy, and practice.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was based on a larger research project conducted in 2006–2008 that was funded by the Iowa Department of Education, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation (CCWP). We thank Dr. Janice Nahra Friedel, former administrator of the division of CCWP, for her support and leadership in guiding and facilitating this project.

Notes

∗Ten or fewer individuals in the cell.

∗Diploma is excluded from this chart because of small numbers.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.