The returns to quality in graduate education. Issue 5 (2nd September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stevenson, Adam
• Is Part Of: Education economics. Volume 24:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 445
• Page End: 464
• Publication Date: 2016-09-02
• Subjects: Graduate school -- ability -- returns to quality; I21 -- I23 -- J24; Education -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; 338.4737
• DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2016.1150418
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-5292

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper estimates the monetary return to quality in US graduate education, controlling for cognitive ability and self-selection across award level, program quality, and field-of-study. In most program types, I cannot reject the hypothesis of no returns to either degree completion or program quality. Important exceptions include master's programs in health science, where completion substantially increases earnings, and in MBA and professional degree programs, where program quality has a positive influence on earnings. I explore the job characteristics that predict greater earnings among students with tertiary education, and I estimate the returns to quality in terms of non-monetary job benefits.