A study was conducted to compare the gain received from vocational education by those from low socioeconomic backgrounds to the gain received by those from high socioeconomic backgrounds to determine whether the postsecondary vocational education system lessens the gap between the social classes. Business/office, distributive, health, and trade-industrial/public service were the four areas selected for survey in three area community colleges and three vocational centers. Questionnaires were mailed to a sample of 1,565 program completers. In addition, one class from each program at each institution was administered an in-class survey. The response rate for the mailed questionnaire was approximately 41% while the in-class survey yielded 639 questionnaires. A variety of scales of socioeconomic status were constructed for each respondent, and three different techniques were used to translate occupation to socioeconomic status. The principal conclusion was that in the geographical area surveyed the postsecondary vocational and technical education system increases inequality, primarily because more upper status than lower status individuals are served by the system and because the return to upper status individuals exceeds that of the lower status individuals. However, some of the occupational programs hold promise for reducing the inequality, and occupational programs do serve a variety of purposes for those who enroll in them. (BL)