Trends in economics in the United States show a strong positive relationship between educational attainment and productivity growth. The earnings differential between those with more education and those with less education reflects the fact that education raises productivity rather than the fact that more productive students go on to pursue more…

This issue analyzed the income/cost ratios of a college investment decision for individuals. The analysis for men and women was done separately, because men and women have very different incomes at similar levels of educational attainment. Calculations were performed for each year from 1967 through 1999. Benefit (income) data were derived from the…