Supplementary Education at College and Its Consequences for Individuals’ Labor Market Outcomes in the United States

Abstract

The current study seeks to expand our knowledge on extended education and ist potential contribution to social inequality by examining socioeconomic disparities in supplementary education (SE) at college and its impact on labor market outcomes. Using data from the United States Education Longitudinal Study, logistic and linear regressions deliver the following main findings: (1) Socioeconomic status (SES) significantly affects SE participation, net of other factors. (2) With higher involvement in SE activities, neither employment nor income prospects significantly increase. (3) Low SES graduates are slightly more likely to benefit from SE than high SES graduates. (4) Among high-impact SE practices, only internships exert a positive effect on labor market outcomes.