Differences in Expected Starting Salaries by Gender and Race of Bachelor Degree Recipients

This study uses data from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and the National Association of Colleges ad Employers to analyze effects of college major on differences in estimated starting salaries by gender and race among bachelor degree recipients from Connecticut colleges and universities. In a previous study using 2006 data, females’ relatively low presence in majors with high average starting salaries and high presence in majors with low average starting salaries suggested that gender earnings differences will persist. However, the study also found that for women, increasing graduation rates of non-Whites should significantly reduce racial earnings inequality as African American, Hispanic, and Asian/ Pacific Islander women were expected to have higher average starting salaries than Whites and American Indian/Alaska Natives based on distributions across majors.  This study builds upon previous work by using panel data to explore trends in choice of college major and the resulting expected starting salaries.  Particular attention will be paid to trends in major choice among women in an effort to determine whether this expected reduction in racial earnings inequality resulting from increased graduation rates is exclusive to the 2006 graduating class.