The Effect of Early College High Schools on STEM Bachelor's degree attainment: Evidence from North Carolina

Abstract

With growing demand for workers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and healthcare, it is important to assess not only whether education interventions impact educational attainment, but also students' majors. This study examines the impact of Early College High Schools (ECHSs) on Bachelor's degree attainment by field of study using data on 400,000 students from North Carolina (7,300 in an ECHS). Using propensity score weighting, I find ECHSs increase Bachelor's attainment within 10 years of high school entry by 4.7 percentage points (19% over baseline), with STEM degree attainment increasing by 1.3 to 2.4 points (18% to 34%). However, within STEM and STEM-related fields, ECHSs increase degrees in the natural sciences (1.3 points or 45%), math/computer science (0.6 points or 60%), and psychology (1.2 points or 57%), but have null and directionally negative effects on engineering (-0.1 points or -7%) and healthcare (-0.3 points or -17%). Patterns are generally similar across student subgroups, though males drive increases in computer science/mathematics while females and white students drive decreases in healthcare. Thus, ECHSs increase STEM degree attainment overall, but more research is needed to examine whether intensive dual-enrollment experiences like the ECHS may create barriers or disincentives to pursuing certain STEM fields.