Discussion Paper

Unfinished Business? A Closer Look at the "Some College, No Degree" Population

Abstract: Higher levels of education are, on aggregate, associated with increased employment, higher wages, and better health outcomes. However, nearly 40 percent of those who enroll in higher education never complete, often leaving them with student loan debt, lost wages from time spent in college, and no benefit of the earnings premium associated with degree attainment. These so-called "some college, no degree" (SCND) students may find the path to employment difficult or reach a wage ceiling quickly in the labor market. A recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) finds that as of 2022, there were 36.8 million adults (including over 3 million in the Fifth District) between the ages of 18 and 64 who had previously enrolled in college but left without receiving a bachelor's degree, associate degree, or long-term certificate.

Keywords: community college; education; labor market outcomes;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Part of Series: Regional Matters

Publication Date: 2024-07-25