The Role of University Characteristics in Determining Post-Graduation Outcomes: Panel Evidence from Three Canadian Cohorts

Abstract

À partir des cohortes de l'Enquête nationale auprès des diplômés, nous analysons les revenus des Canadiens détenteurs d'un baccalauréat cinq ans après l'obtention de leur diplôme. Nos résultats montrent qu'il y a un lien important entre les revenus et l'université qui décerne le diplôme, puisque nous observons des corrélations entre les revenus et les caractéristiques des universités fréquentées. Par exemple, le nombre plus élevé d'étudiants de premier cycle, qui entraîne possiblement un enseignement de qualité moins élevée, est lié à des revenus inférieurs. Chez les hommes, mais pas chez les femmes, un ratio professeurs-étudiants plus élevé est lié à des revenus significativement plus élevés. Quand on ne tient pas compte de la majeure des étudiants, qui peut être liée de façon endogène à l'université fréquentée, l'effet des caractéristiques des universités est encore plus marqué. Notons toutefois que les caractéristiques des universités ne sont pas fortement liées à la probabilité d'obtenir un emploi après l'obtention d'un diplôme. Mots clés : enseignement supérieur, capital humain, revenus sur le marché du travail Using three cohorts of the National Graduates Survey, we study earnings five years after graduation from Canadian bachelor's programs. Evidence is found of significant university-specific effects on earnings. Changes in earnings and university characteristics across cohort are correlated. Increased undergraduate enrolment is associated with lower earnings, suggesting crowding out in educational quality. For men, but not women, increases in the professor-student ratio are associated with meaningful gains in earnings. When student major is excluded, since it may be endogenous to university, the effect of university characteristics is much larger. University characteristics are not strongly related to post-graduation employment probabilities.

Does It Pay to Graduate from an 'Elite' University in Australia?

“…In contrast to the existing Australian literature (Birch et al, 2009;Lee, 2014;Koshy et al, 2016), we find statistically significant evidence of differences in graduate starting salaries between Australian universities. In particular, we find that Go8 premia exist.…”

“…To address the selection problem, the empirical literature has adopted different strategies, typically relying on what Heckman and Robb (1985, p. 243) refer to as 'selection on observables', whereby variables generally associated with selection bias, such as previous test scores and family socioeconomic background, are included as covariates in an earnings model (e.g. Rumberger & Thomas, 1993;Monks, 2000;Chevalier & Conlon, 2003;Thomas & Zhang, 2005;Holmlund, 2009;Birch et al, 2009;Walker & Zhu, 2018). Monks (2000), for example, uses scores from the Armed Forces Qualifications Test (a pre-university examination) as a measure of academic ability and preparation.…”

Market Thickness and the Early Labour Market Career of University Graduates: An Urban Advantage?

“…In addition Market Thickness and the Early Labour Market Career 407 to these two main instruments, we also include university dummies as instruments. Although some studies show that there are indeed university effects in earnings (Betts et al, 2013), previous research using micro-data on Swedish graduates finds little or no evidence for such effects once one controls for basic ability indicators and location as we do in this study (see e.g. Eliasson 2006;Holmlund, 2009).…”

Persistent Inequality or Liberation from Social Origins? Determining Who Attends Graduate and Professional Schools in Canada's Expanded Postsecondary System

“…These studies, however, have not compared the post‐undergraduate educational experiences of Canadian university graduates. In Canada, existing studies typically focus on the labor market outcomes of undergraduates and graduates (e.g., Betts, Ferrall, and Finnie ; Boudarbat and Chernoff ; Desjardins and King ; Finnie ; Finnie and Frenette ; Frenette ; Walters and Zarifa ; Yuen ; Zarifa and Walters ), while other studies describe graduate enrollment trends and the characteristics of degree‐holders (e.g., CAGS 2006; Gluszynski and Peters ; Wiggers et al ; Williams ). As increasing proportions of baccalaureate degree‐holders aspire to attend graduate school, the results of this study will also be informative to policymakers and education officials who may seek to continue to improve access to post‐undergraduate programs.…”

“…Unfortunately, the author was unable to identify institutions in the analyses, which prevented an exploration of institutional effects (e.g., school mission, school type, size of the school, selectivity, or ranking) as in some U.S. studies (see Mullen et al 2003). of undergraduates and graduates (e.g., Betts, Ferrall, and Finnie 2000;Boudarbat and Chernoff 2009;Desjardins and King 2011;Finnie 1999;Finnie and Frenette 2003;Frenette 2000;Walters and Zarifa 2008;Yuen 2010;Zarifa and Walters 2008), while other studies describe graduate enrollment trends and the characteristics of degree-holders (e.g., CAGS 2006;Gluszynski and Peters 2005;Wiggers et al 2011;Williams 2005). As increasing proportions of baccalaureate degree-holders aspire to attend graduate school, the results of this study will also be informative to policymakers and education officials who may seek to continue to improve access to post-undergraduate programs.…”