1. Choosing College Wisely: Comparative Earning Data as a Key Factor in Selecting Colleges and Majors
- Author
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David Levy and Harvey J. Graff
- Abstract
Historically, it has been difficult for students and their families to compare how different colleges and programs improve students' chances of landing a desirable job and earning a good salary. The U.S. Department of Education's 2015 release of student earning data was a major step toward remedying this problem. The data offered by the College Scorecard (CSC) have facilitated the development of a number of different ranking methodologies that attempt to measure the "value" gained from attending different colleges and programs. This article analyzes five CSC-based systems that measure educational return on investment in various ways. There are important differences in how these methodologies balance the costs of college and median earnings of graduates to assign relative value. Limitations in data granularity prevent important analysis, particularly comparisons of how universities perform with members of underserviced demographic groups.
- Published
- 2024
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