The Surprising Labor Market Success of Part-Time Community College Students

Abstract

ABSTRACT Considerable research has focused on the academic outcomes of part-time undergraduates, but few studies have addressed their post-college labor market outcomes. This study compares the post-college earnings of community college students based on different full-time, part-time, and stop-out trajectories during their first four semesters. Community college students who enroll part-time with no stop-outs during their first four semesters earn significantly more after college than full-timers. Part-timers who did stop out are earning at least as much as their full-time counterparts. These effects are evident both among those who graduate/earn 60 credits and among those who do not. Compared to consistent full-time enrollees, two groups of community college undergraduates have significantly lower post-college earnings in the full sample: full-timers who interrupt their studies with a stop-out and persons who mix full-time with part-time and stopping-out.