The Earnings Benefits of Majoring in STEM Fields Among High Achieving Minority Students

Tatiana Melguizo; Gregory C. Wolniak

doi:10.1007/s11162-011-9238-z

The Earnings Benefits of Majoring in STEM Fields Among High Achieving Minority Students

Tatiana Melguizo, Gregory C. Wolniak

Administration, Leadership & Technology

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

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the association between major field of study in college and early career earnings among a sample of academically accomplished minority students. Results demonstrate the economic benefits minority students experience from majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math field during college, and highlight the importance of gaining employment in a closely related field in order to secure those benefits. The results also illustrate the need to carefully account for self-selection when estimating the earnings premiums in relation to educational experiences during college. Implications for policy and research are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	383-405
Number of pages	23
Journal	Research in Higher Education
Volume	53
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-011-9238-z
State	Published - Jun 2012

Keywords

College majors
Earnings
Job congruence
STEM

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Education

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