Who Benefits Most from College?

Educational expansion is one of the most apparent, enduring, and consequential features of modern society. Concerning the significance of educational expansion in the United States during the twentieth century, Fischer and Hout (2006, 247) conclude that “the division between the less- and more-educated grew and emerged as a powerful determiner of life chances and lifestyles.” Social scientists have long been interested in access to and the impact of higher education. Two questions commonly posed are: What family and individual attributes are associated with the attainment of higher education? and What are the causal effects of higher education on subsequent socioeconomic outcomes?.