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…

Based on the data obtained in the "High School and Beyond" (HS&B) national longitudinal survey of 1980, dropouts, regardless of race, are significantly more likely to attain less economic independence and social mobility than are graduates or at risk graduates. Education is the most important factor in predicting a youth's future…