DO 2-YEAR COLLEGES INCREASE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL-ATTAINMENT - EVIDENCEFROM THE STATES

Ave two- or four-year colleges move efficient at increasing the educat ional attainment of young adults' I use state variation in two- and fo ur-year college systems to address this question ar the stare level. I find that the composition and cost of higher education in a state aff ect the enrollment decisions of individuals in that stare. Further att ending a two-year rather than a four-year college may lower the educat ional attainment of some students, bur more students will benefit from the community college alternative. If also most likely costs the stat e move to educate a student in a four-year rather than a two-year coll ege. As a result, community colleges provide a potentially efficient w ay to increase access to higher education as well as increase the over all educational attainment of a state's residents.