Estimating the Value of a New Postsecondary Credential: An Audit Study of Community College Bachelor’s Degrees

Despite large returns to postsecondary education, disparities in degree attainment across racial-ethnic groups persist, leading policymakers to explore alternative strategies for increasing postsecondary access and success. Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) programs have emerged as one alternative, offering more affordable and accessible pathways to bachelor’s degrees. However, little is known about their value in the labor market. To understand how completing a CCB degree may impact underrepresented minority (URM) graduates’ labor market prospects, we propose a resume audit study in which we will submit fictitious applications to real job postings, experimentally assigning the institution attended, degree awarded, and applicant race and ethnicity. In this pilot study, we will focus on early childhood education (ECE) programs, which may be particularly impactful for women of color, who are overrepresented in the ECE workforce, often in low-wage positions. By examining the value of CCB degrees in this field, our pilot study aims to provide new evidence on the potential for a new type of postsecondary credential to improve labor market outcomes, promote economic mobility, and reduce racial-ethnic disparities. The findings from the pilot will help guide a larger audit study in other fast-growing CCB programs (i.e., business, IT, and health) across the U.S.