Code for: The returns to STEM programs for less-prepared students

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Kevin Ng, CNA Corporation; Evan Riehl, Cornell University

Version: View help for Version V1

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Project Description

Summary: The returns to selective STEM programs depend on: (a) whether students complete these programs, (b) earnings conditional on completion, and (c) counterfactual schooling choices. Much existing research has focused on only one of these margins---potentially leading to an incomplete picture of the returns to STEM education for students with less academic preparation. Using data from a Colombian university and two empirical strategies, we find that less-prepared students have higher earnings returns to selective STEM programs than more-prepared students, even though they are less likely to complete these programs. A key mechanism is that less-prepared students have lower-paying counterfactual schooling options.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: STEM programs; Academic preparation; Returns to education

JEL Classification:
      I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
      I24 Education and Inequality
      I26 Returns to Education
      J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

Geographic Coverage: Colombia

Universe: All college admission exam takers and college enrollees in Colombia
Applicants to Univalle

Data Type(s): program source code

Methodology

Data Source:

Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística, Bogotá, Colombia (Household survey data (GEIH))

Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación, Bogotá, Colombia (ICFES exam takers)

Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación, Bogotá, Colombia (ECAES exam takers)

Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, Bogotá, Colombia (Ministry of Social Protection tax records)

Ministerio de Educación Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia (Ministry of Education Higher Education Census)

Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia (Univalle admissions data)

Unit(s) of Observation: individual

Related Publications

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Published Versions

V1 [2024-04-05]

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Dublin Core

DDI 2.5

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