ERIC REVIEW The Economic Returns of a Community College Education

One incentive that underlies individuals ' decisions to attend college rather than enter the workforce upon graduating from high school is the expectation of higher paying jobs upon graduation from college (Elam, 1983). Although a wealth of research shows that economic returns are substantial, most of the evidence is based on the differences between four-year college graduates and high school graduates (Henderson & Ottinger, 1985; Pace, 1979). Only recently has a wave of research stud-ies been advanced that focuses on the economic benefits of attendin