Are statistics comparing the earning power of college graduates with high school graduates valid?

Question

College graduates are more amibitious, maybe somewhat more intelligent and have more money and more advantages to begin with than high school grads who don't go on to college. The statistical difference in earning power is always portrayed as some inherent value of the educational experience itself, and not just a reflection of the inherent differences in the two populations.

Toolofoppression: You're kind of missing the point here. I don't dispute that college grads make more. But does that mean that there is something inherent in the college experience that leads to more earning power?

Answer 1

I believe they are valid and I will answer by addressing your final question - whether or not there is something inherent in a college education that leads to higher incomes.

As a professor, I routinely told my students that college wasn't just to tell you what to think. You won't remember all the dates, data, etc... that you learned in college, although some of it will be valuable in your chosen career and life. The point of college is to teach you HOW to think. By studying, memorizing, regurgitating, etc... information over a period of years, your thought processes change. You learn to analyze things differently. In having colleagues in the classroom, dorm, etc... you learn to relate to your peers. In having professors and advisors, you learn to relate to authority. You have had to practice at least some discipline, learned to deal with deadlines, and have had experience with the bureaucracy of your school. To top it off, you have paid for these opportunities. Sometimes the fact that graduates have large student loans mean that they seek higher salaries in order to simply pay off debts.

The things we learn in college make us better employees. Therefore, we make higher salaries.

I know there are lots of exceptions in which non college grads make a lot of money. I have one sister who did not attend college who is actually retired from the military. She makes quite a bit more money than I do without a college education. I keep reminding her that she is older than I am as well and I hope to be at her income level or higher when I am her age! Regardless, the military taught her much of the 'how to think' things I learned in college, only she did that for 20 years and I went to college much less than that.

Answer 2

The question you are asking is not giving you the answer you want. To answer the question you specifically asked, toolofopression was right on the money. If you want to study the validity of the statistics, you need to look at the survey that produced the statistics - was it a nationally representative sample, what methdology was employed, who funded the study, etc. If this is not the answer you want, then try rephrasing the question - maybe a question asking WHY college graduates earn more than high school graduates would be more suitable to the answer you seek...

Answer 3

I graduated from severe college in 1975 and attended college for 2 years. have been given married and raised 2 astonishing infants. Went lower back to varsity in 1995 and graduated in 1998 purely in time to be homestead finished-time for my infants to graduate severe college. They graduated in 2001 and the two are actually graduated from college and interior the start of their expert careers...

Answer 4

Essentially, you're right, but your question is a bit vague. Statistical data comparing degrees of earning power between hs and college grads aren't meant to segment classes, though. Naturally, people, in general, are innately different from one another which adds a tremendous factor of personal incentive. Social standing, as well, is an equally important factor to measure in. Statistically, students who come from financially secure families are more likely to further themselves academically than people of a lower demographic for whatever reason. These data are important, but irrelevent to this particular study. The statisticians who compiled the theory you're referring to, more than likely, factored in these variables, but they weren't exactly pertinent. Basically, they're aware that other factors influence students' levels of personal ambition, but they're comparing, not correlating, so additional info must be considered, but not necessarily shared.

Good question! By the way.

Answer 5

of course they arent. its like comparing the driving skills of an individual that has a drivers license to one that doesnt. so comparing the two isnt really a fair comparison. but, i think it might be more interesting to compare the earning power of a college grad to that of a post college grad. which might have a bigger gap than comparing a college grad to a high school grad.

Answer 6

yeah, several studies have found similar results. there will always be exceptions, but the overall trend is reliable.