The Benefits of Higher Education: Sex, Racial/Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Group Differences

This study analyzes data from the NELS:92/00 to explore sex, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic group differences in the benefits that high school graduates realize from college. Sex differences in higher education benefits may be a source of observed differences between women and men in college enrollment and degree attainment rates. The findings also suggest that observed racial/ethnic and SES group differences in college enrollment cannot be attributed to actual differences in higher education's economic and non-economic benefits, as some benefits are greater for African Americans than for Whites and benefits generally do not vary by SES.