Is a college education worth it?
While grabbing my cup of coffee from the business school, a headline from the NY Times business section caught my eye: "A Diploma's Worth? Ask Her." (registration required).
The collumnist, David Leonhardt, examines the economic advantages of a college diploma by comparing the average increases in salaries for men with vs. increases in salaries for women . Since women have been earning their college diplomas at a much higher clip than men the past few years, the results are not surprising.
Armed with college degrees, large numbers of women have entered fields once dominated by men. Nearly half of new doctors today are women, up from just 1 of every 10 in the early 1970s. In all, the average inflation-adjusted weekly pay of women has jumped 26 percent since 1980.
And men? Their pay has increased about as much as their college graduation rate — it’s up just 1 percent since 1980.
Leonhardt also accounts for gender discrimination in salaries and such, as well. It's a great read, especially in light of the Feminist Week events going on at campus.