Where the Boys Aren'T: Non-Cognitive Skills, Returns to School and the Gender Gap in Higher Education

29 Pages Posted: 30 May 2002 Last revised: 31 Dec 2022

See all articles by Brian Jacob

Brian Jacob

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: May 2002

Abstract

Nearly 60 percent of college students today are women. Using longitudinal data on a nationally representative cohort of eighth grade students in 1988, I examine two potential explanations for the differential attendance rates of men and women -- returns to schooling and non-cognitive skills. The attendance gap is roughly five percentage points for all high school graduates. Conditional on attendance, however, there are few differences in type of college, enrollment status or selectivity of institution. The majority of the attendance gap can be explained by differences in the characteristics of men and women, despite some gender differences in the determinants of college attendance. I find that higher non-cognitive skills and college premiums among women account for nearly 90 percent of the gender gap in higher education. Interestingly, non-cognitive factors continue to influence college enrollment after controlling for high school achievement.

Suggested Citation

Jacob, Brian, Where the Boys Aren'T: Non-Cognitive Skills, Returns to School and the Gender Gap in Higher Education (May 2002). NBER Working Paper No. w8964, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=314635

Brian Jacob (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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