It is widely acknowledged that postsecondary education can provide a route out of low-wage
employment and welfare dependency for those with the ability and motivation to pursue advanced
degrees. A study by Kane and Rouse (1995) has been cited frequently as evidence that
postsecondary education, and particularly graduation with a two-year or four-year degree, is
associated with increased earnings. Focused specifically on welfare recipients, Hollenbeck and
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Kimmel (2002) and London (2004) similarly demonstrate that postsecondary education is associated
with improved long-term outcomes, including increased employment and earnings and reduced
welfare recidivism. Further, having higher levels of education (which may or may not have been
achieved while receiving aid) is associated with shorter welfare spells (Barrett 2002; Blank 1989),
increased post-program employment and earnings (Michalopoulos and Schwartz 2000), and better
educational outcomes for children (Magnusen and McGroder 2002). Descriptive studies of
community college programs for welfare recipients also suggest improved outcomes resulting from
college attendance (Butler and Deprez 2002; Gittell, Gross, and Holdaway 1993; Karier 1998 and
2000; Thompson 1993).