Do two-year colleges increase overall educational attainment? Evidence from the states

Ave two- or four-year colleges move efficient at increasing the educational attainment of young adults' I use state variation in two- and four-year college systems to address this question ar the stare level. I find that the composition and cost of higher education in a state affect the enrollment decisions of individuals in that stare. Further attending a two-year rather than a four-year college may lower the educational attainment of some students, bur more students will benefit from the community college alternative. If also most likely costs the state move to educate a student in a four-year rather than a two-year college. As a result, community colleges provide a potentially efficient way to increase access to higher education as well as increase the overall educational attainment of a state's residents.