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Increasing Time to Baccalaureate Degree in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • John Bound

    (Department of Economics, University of Michigan)

  • Michael F. Lovenheim

    (Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University and National Bureau of Economic Research)

  • Sarah Turner

    (Department of Economics, University of Virginia and National Bureau of Economic Research)

Abstract

Time to completion of the baccalaureate degree has increased markedly in the United States over the past three decades. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972 and the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988, we show that the increase in time to degree is localized among those who begin their postsecondary education at public colleges outside the most selective universities. We consider several potential explanations for these trends. First, we show that changes in the college preparedness and the demographic composition of degree recipients cannot account for the observed increases. Instead, our results identify declines in collegiate resources in the less selective public sector and increases in student employment as potential explanations for the observed increases in time to degree. © 2012 Association for Education Finance and Policy

Suggested Citation

  • John Bound & Michael F. Lovenheim & Sarah Turner, 2012. "Increasing Time to Baccalaureate Degree in the United States," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 7(4), pages 375-424, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:edfpol:v:7:y:2012:i:4:p:375-424
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Terry T. Ishitani, 2006. "Studying Attrition and Degree Completion Behavior among First-Generation College Students in the United States," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 77(5), pages 861-885, September.
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    3. Stephen L. DesJardins & Dennis A. Ahlburg & Brian P. McCall, 2002. "A Temporal Investigation of Factors Related to Timely Degree Completion," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 73(5), pages 555-581, September.
    4. Caroline M. Hoxby, 2009. "The Changing Selectivity of American Colleges," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 23(4), pages 95-118, Fall.
    5. Sarah Turner, 2004. "Going to College and Finishing College.Explaining Different Educational Outcomes," NBER Chapters, in: College Choices: The Economics of Where to Go, When to Go, and How to Pay For It, pages 13-62, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    baccalaureate degree; postsecondary education; colleges; universities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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