Tuition and the outcomes of community college attendance: simulations for academic-program and occupational-program students

Abstract

I estimate the impacts of higher 2-year and 4-year tuition on the outcomes of community college attendance. Higher 2-year tuition is associated with higher dropout rates in both academic and occupational programs and lower rates of terminal degree receipt in occupational programs. Dropout increases are especially large in late semesters and are stronger among men than women. Higher 4-year tuition reduces dropout rates in the early semesters of both academic and occupational programs. Much of the effects of tuition on academic-program enrollment disappear when including campus fixed effects.