Title page
Contents
Summary 3
Why this study? 8
What the study examined 9
What the study found 12
Within one year of high school graduation, nearly all graduates were enrolled in college or employed; initial postsecondary pathways varied by student characteristics but not by high school rurality 12
Graduates with disabilities, graduates with limited English proficiency, Hispanic graduates, and American Indian graduates were the most likely to be neither employed nor enrolled in college... 12
Rates of college certificate and degree attainment six years after high school graduation varied by initial postsecondary pathway and student characteristics 13
Differences in rates of college certificate and degree attainment six years after high school graduation by student characteristics remained, even among graduates who followed the same... 16
Employment rates and median annual earnings six years after high school graduation varied by initial postsecondary pathway, highest degree attained, student characteristics, and high school rurality 16
Differences in employment rates and annual earnings six years after high school graduation by student characteristics remained, even among graduates who followed the same initial postsecondary pathway 19
Implications of the study findings 20
High schools might explore ways to expand college readiness opportunities for racial/ethnic minority students, economically disadvantaged students, students with limited English proficiency,... 20
High schools might consider directing more intensive resources to students who are the most at risk during the transition to postsecondary education and employment 20
High schools could share information with students about the earnings of past cohorts of students and about how earnings differed across postsecondary pathways 21
Colleges might explore ways to support degree attainment among male students, racial/ethnic minority students, economically disadvantaged students, students with limited English proficiency,... 21
Appendix A. Literature review 22
Appendix B. Study methodology 25
Appendix C. Supplemental findings 31
Notes 44
References 45
Table 1. Percentage of 2008-15 Minnesota public high school graduates following each initial postsecondary pathway within one year of high school graduation, by student characteristic and high... 13
Table 2. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by initial postsecondary pathway 15
Table 3. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by student characteristic and high school rurality 15
Table 4. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by initial postsecondary pathway... 18
Table 5. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by student characteristic and high school rurality 19
Figure 1. Types of degrees attained by 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates six years after high school graduation varied by initial postsecondary 14
Figure 2. Employment rates among 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates six years after high school graduation varied by initial postsecondary pathway 17
Boxes
Box 1. Defining initial postsecondary pathways within one year of graduation 9
Box 2. Data and methods 10
Box 3. Limitations 11
Table B1. Characteristics of the study populations 26
Table B2. Rates of missing data for characteristics of the population samples 29
Table C1. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by initial postsecondary pathway and gender 31
Table C2. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by initial postsecondary pathway and race/ethnicity 32
Table C3. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by initial postsecondary pathway and socioeconomic status 33
Table C4. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by initial postsecondary pathway and English proficiency 34
Table C5. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by initial postsecondary pathway and disability status 35
Table C6. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates attaining a college certificate or degree six years after high school graduation, by initial postsecondary pathway and high school rurality 36
Table C7. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by initial postsecondary pathway and gender 37
Table C8. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by initial postsecondary pathway and... 38
Table C9. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by initial postsecondary pathway and... 40
Table C10. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by initial postsecondary pathway and English proficiency 41
Table C11. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by initial postsecondary pathway and disability status 42
Table C12. Percentage of 2008-10 Minnesota public high school graduates who were employed six years after high school graduation and their annual earnings, by initial postsecondary pathway and high school rurality 43