Wages
College wage premium, 1973–2015
| Date | College/High school wage premium |
|---|---|
| 1973 | 37.7% |
| 1974 | 36.1% |
| 1975 | 37.5% |
| 1976 | 35.7% |
| 1977 | 34.0% |
| 1978 | 32.8% |
| 1979 | 31.4% |
| 1980 | 32.9% |
| 1981 | 33.8% |
| 1982 | 36.0% |
| 1983 | 38.4% |
| 1984 | 40.7% |
| 1985 | 42.6% |
| 1986 | 43.9% |
| 1987 | 45.5% |
| 1988 | 45.7% |
| 1989 | 45.9% |
| 1990 | 47.6% |
| 1991 | 46.5% |
| 1992 | 48.8% |
| 1993 | 49.0% |
| 1994 | 49.6% |
| 1995 | 49.5% |
| 1996 | 48.8% |
| 1997 | 49.5% |
| 1998 | 50.7% |
| 1999 | 51.3% |
| 2000 | 51.6% |
| 2001 | 52.0% |
| 2002 | 51.0% |
| 2003 | 50.9% |
| 2004 | 50.5% |
| 2005 | 51.7% |
| 2006 | 52.0% |
| 2007 | 53.1% |
| 2008 | 53.6% |
| 2009 | 52.5% |
| 2010 | 53.8% |
| 2011 | 53.6% |
| 2012 | 54.5% |
| 2013 | 55.7% |
| 2014 | 54.3% |
| 2015 | 56.1% |
Note: The college wage premium is the percent by which wages of college graduates exceed those of otherwise equivalent high school graduates, regression adjusted.
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata
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