College majors and social mobility

Gregory C. Wolniak; Tricia A. Seifert; Eric J. Reed; Ernest T. Pascarella

doi:10.1016/j.rssm.2008.02.002

College majors and social mobility

Gregory C. Wolniak, Tricia A. Seifert, Eric J. Reed, Ernest T. Pascarella

Administration, Leadership & Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

To further our understanding of social mobility in the United States, this study examines the role of major field of study during college, and the relationships between origin characteristics and education attainment. Data, collected in 2001, consisted of information on the college and labor market experiences of 4435 alumni from 30 colleges, as well as matched ACT data on alumni background and pre-college characteristics from three cohorts of college graduates up to 25 years after college. Results indicate that both placement on and movement along the social ladder are affected by college major, and the extent to which status is awarded based on merit relative to inherited economic resources is partially dependent upon major.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	123-139
Number of pages	17
Journal	Research in Social Stratification and Mobility
Volume	26
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2008.02.002
State	Published - Jun 2008

Keywords

College major
Earnings
Higher education
Status attainment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sociology and Political Science
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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10.1016/j.rssm.2008.02.002

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title = "College majors and social mobility",

abstract = "To further our understanding of social mobility in the United States, this study examines the role of major field of study during college, and the relationships between origin characteristics and education attainment. Data, collected in 2001, consisted of information on the college and labor market experiences of 4435 alumni from 30 colleges, as well as matched ACT data on alumni background and pre-college characteristics from three cohorts of college graduates up to 25 years after college. Results indicate that both placement on and movement along the social ladder are affected by college major, and the extent to which status is awarded based on merit relative to inherited economic resources is partially dependent upon major.",

keywords = "College major, Earnings, Higher education, Status attainment",

author = "Wolniak, {Gregory C.} and Seifert, {Tricia A.} and Reed, {Eric J.} and Pascarella, {Ernest T.}",

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AU - Wolniak, Gregory C.

AU - Seifert, Tricia A.

AU - Reed, Eric J.

AU - Pascarella, Ernest T.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from The Mellon and Spencer Foundations.

PY - 2008/6

Y1 - 2008/6

N2 - To further our understanding of social mobility in the United States, this study examines the role of major field of study during college, and the relationships between origin characteristics and education attainment. Data, collected in 2001, consisted of information on the college and labor market experiences of 4435 alumni from 30 colleges, as well as matched ACT data on alumni background and pre-college characteristics from three cohorts of college graduates up to 25 years after college. Results indicate that both placement on and movement along the social ladder are affected by college major, and the extent to which status is awarded based on merit relative to inherited economic resources is partially dependent upon major.

AB - To further our understanding of social mobility in the United States, this study examines the role of major field of study during college, and the relationships between origin characteristics and education attainment. Data, collected in 2001, consisted of information on the college and labor market experiences of 4435 alumni from 30 colleges, as well as matched ACT data on alumni background and pre-college characteristics from three cohorts of college graduates up to 25 years after college. Results indicate that both placement on and movement along the social ladder are affected by college major, and the extent to which status is awarded based on merit relative to inherited economic resources is partially dependent upon major.

KW - College major

KW - Earnings

KW - Higher education

KW - Status attainment

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College majors and social mobility

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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