A report published by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University examines how CTE concentration in high school can affect postsecondary enrollment, earnings, poverty and education/labor force engagement for different learner groups and across different CTE program areas. Using the Massachusetts state longitudinal data system, researchers studied nine cohorts of high school students, of which 20% were CTE concentrators, for one to seven years after their expected graduation dates. Overall, the researchers found positive impacts of CTE concentration on postsecondary attendance, earnings, poverty avoidance and engagement in education and the labor market.
Postsecondary Attendance: Although CTE concentration predicted a small decrease in overall postsecondary attendance, much of this can be attributed to lower attendance at four-year institutions. In fact, CTE concentration is associated with an increase in attendance at two-year institutions. Within particular student populations, Black and Latino CTE concentrators and concentrators who were eligible for free and reduced-price lunch are much more likely to attend college than their non-CTE peers.
Among program areas, health, IT and education clusters are most likely to lead to postsecondary enrollment, while transportation and construction clusters are least associated with college attendance.
Earnings: Compared to non-CTE students, CTE concentrators, on average, saw $1,792 more in annual earnings during the first year after high school and $3,359 more in annual earnings by seven years post-high school. Among students who never attended a postsecondary institution, CTE concentrators made over $6,000 more annually than non-CTE concentrators by the seventh year. Focusing on particular student groups, CTE concentration is most strongly associated with increased earnings for male learners and historically marginalized students, particularly students with disabilities.
When considering program clusters, the strongest increase in earnings is associated with construction; transportation, manufacturing and technology; and health care. While the positive association with earnings begins to subside in later years as college-going individuals enter the workforce, CTE concentrators’ earnings advantages continue in some fields, particularly in health care and construction.
Poverty and Disengagement: CTE concentrators are 8.4 percentage points more likely to avoid poverty and are significantly more likely to earn above the poverty threshold seven years after high school. Additionally, CTE concentrators are 7.8 percentage points less likely to be disengaged (neither employed nor participating in education or training).
School Setting: The report also studied the differences in post-high school outcomes for CTE concentrators at comprehensive high schools as compared to CTE-dedicated high schools in Massachusetts. Researchers concluded that while both types of institutions are associated with earnings advantages for CTE concentrators, CTE-dedicated schools are likely to lead to significantly larger earnings increases.