An Assessment of the Labor Market,
Income, Health, Social, Civic and
Fiscal Consequences of Dropping Out
of High School: Findings for
Massachusetts and Bristol County
Adults in the 21st Century
Andrew Sum
Ishwar Khatiwada
Joseph McLaughlin
Sheila Palma
Center for Labor Market Studies
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts
Recent Findings on Four Year, On-Time High School Graduation
Rates, College Attendance Rates, and Four Year College Attendance
Rates for High School Students in MA, Selected School Districts
Across the State and Districts in Bristol County



Measuring on-time graduation rates; four
year and five year rates
Variations in on-time graduation rates across
school districts, gender, and race-ethnic
groups
College attendance plans and types of
colleges attended by four year graduates of
public schools in Massachusetts and Bristol
County.
Why We Should Care About High
School Dropout Problems in Massachusetts
and Bristol County



There are serious negative labor market and
income problems for dropouts themselves over
their working lives; substantially reduced
employment and earnings opportunities
The dropout population reduces the future size
and quality of the state’s resident labor force,
thereby limiting our economic growth potential
Adverse effects on two parent family formation
and the economic, social, and physical well-being
of their children




Negative impacts on family poverty and
income inequality
Reduced civic engagement and
participation in civic affairs
Increased incarceration rates among
young dropouts
Adverse fiscal consequences of dropouts
for local, state, and federal budgets
The Types of Measures Included in Our Study
of the Economic and Social Consequences of Failing to
Graduate from High School







Labor market outcomes (employment and earnings on
a monthly, annual, lifetime basis)
Income outcomes (poverty, near poverty, low income
status)
Health outcomes (health status, health insurance
coverage, disability status)
Family outcomes (marriage rates, out-of-wedlock
childbearing, well-being of children)
Civic outcomes (voting behavior, volunteerism)
Criminal justice outcomes (Incarceration rates + costs)
Fiscal outcomes in terms of taxes paid and cash and
in-kind benefits received
Recent Findings on Four Year Graduation
Rates and College Attendance Rates in Massachusetts
and Bristol County





Four-year, on-time graduation rates for the class of
2006 across states
Comparisons of four-year graduation rates in
Massachusetts and substate areas in 2006 and 2007
Comparisons of four-year graduation rates across
cities in Massachusetts and Bristol County in 2007
Comparisons of four-year graduation rates across
gender and race-ethnic groups in Massachusetts and
substate areas
Comparisons of college attendance rates and four
year college attendance rates for the expected
graduating class of 2007
Ranking of Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rates in the Seven
States That Have Released Graduation Rates Based on the
National Governors Association's Compact Rate
90.0
79.9
79.0
80.0
76.8
76.5
71.0
68.1
70.0
64.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
(2
Y
or
k
N
ew
a
C
ar
ol
in
or
id
Fl
00
5)
00
6)
(2
(2
a
ia
n
In
d
A
ri
zo
na
00
6)
(2
00
6)
00
4)
(2
20
06
)
t(
V
er
m
on
a
N
or
th
M
as
sa
ch
us
et
t
s
(2
00
6)
0.0
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rates in the
Selected School Districts in Massachusetts, 2007
120
100
98.9
96.4
95.7
95.4
80
69.8
69.0
68.5
67.9
58.2
60
57.9
54.1
53.8
40.8
40
20
w
re
nc
e
La
ng
fie
ld
er
Sp
ri
R
iv
st
on
Bo
Fa
ll
N
ew
Be
df
or
d
on
nn
Br
oc
kt
Ly
w
el
l
Lo
an
sf
ie
ld
W
or
ce
st
er
M
st
on
Ea
W
C
es
on
to
co
n
rd
-C
ar
lis
le
0
Recent Cohort Graduation Rates of High School
Students in Massachusetts and in Selected Districts of
Bristol County, 2006 and 2007
School
Massachusetts Total
Attleboro
Bristol-Plymouth Voc. Tech
Dartmouth
Dighton-Rehoboth
Easton
Fairhaven
Fall River
Freetown-Lakeville
Mansfield
New Bedford
North Attleborough
Norton
Seekonk
Somerset
Swansea
Taunton
Westport
2007
4-Year
80.9
74.8
97.1
90.8
89.7
95.7
78.7
54.1
88.2
95.4
58.2
90.1
87.0
90.6
95.0
82.8
77.0
82.5
2006
4-Year
79.9
71.3
93.1
85.6
86.0
95.8
89.2
54.2
82.1
93.0
57.4
85.2
78.5
92.5
86.3
85.7
70.5
69.4
2006
5-Year
82.7
74.5
93.1
86.8
87.2
96.2
89.8
56.8
83.4
93.0
60.5
86.9
80.4
93.5
86.7
85.7
71.2
71.0
Top Five and Bottom Five 4-Year Cohort
Graduation Rates for Selected Districts in Bristol
County, Class of 2007
120.0
100.0
97.1
95.7
95.4
95.0
90.8
78.7
%
80.0
77.0
74.8
58.2
60.0
54.1
40.0
20.0
Br
ist
ol
-P
ly
un
t
Ta
ve
n
Fa
ir
ha
an
sf
ie
ld
So
m
er
se
t
D
ar
tm
ou
th
M
st
on
Ea
on
A
ttl
eb
or
N
o
ew
Be
df
or
d
Fa
ll
R
iv
er
m
ou
th
V
oc
.T
ec
h
0.0
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rates for All
Students and by Gender and Race-Ethnic Group,
Massachusetts and Boston, Class of 2007
(A)
Gender/ Race-Ethnic
Group
All
Male
Female
Black
Asian
Hispanic
White
Massachusetts
80.9
77.8
84.1
65.2
83.7
58.5
86.4
Gender Gaps in Four-Year Cohort Graduation
Rates in Selected Affluent School Districts and
Larger School Districts in Massachusetts, 2006
(A)
(B)
(C)
Male 4-Year
Graduation Rate
Female 4-Year
Graduation Rate
Males - Females
Weston
Chelmsford
Concord
98.6
95.5
93.8
98.8
98.6
98.4
-0.2
-3.1
-4.6
Brockton
Worcester
Lynn
Boston
New Bedford
Fall River
Springfield
Lawrence
64.7
63.9
57.5
52.3
51.2
50.6
45.0
34.2
76.1
70.6
72.5
65.8
63.4
57.6
57.7
48.0
-11.4
-6.7
-15.0
-13.5
-12.2
-7.0
-12.7
-13.8
School District
Gender Gaps in Four-Year Cohort Graduation
Rates in Selected School Districts in Bristol County,
2007
School
Attleboro
Bristol-Plymouth Voc. Tech
Dartmouth
Dighton-Rehoboth
Easton
Fairhaven
Fall River
Freetown-Lakeville
Mansfield
New Bedford
North Attleborough
Norton
Seekonk
Somerset
Swansea
Taunton
Westport
Female
79.2
97.2
93.2
87.9
97.0
84.4
62.9
91.3
95.1
69.1
91.5
91.8
89.1
96.6
89.6
80.8
87.9
Male
69.9
96.9
88.8
91.5
94.2
71.2
45.5
85.1
95.7
46.2
88.8
81.8
91.8
93.8
77.7
73.0
76.8
Male Female
-9.3
-0.3
-4.4
3.6
-2.8
-13.2
-17.4
-6.2
0.6
-22.9
-2.7
-10.0
2.7
-2.8
-11.9
-7.8
-11.1
4-Year Cohort Graduation Rates for All, Low
Income, and Non-Low Income Students in MA
and the Bristol County Area, Class of 2007
(A)
(B)
(C)
All
Students
NonLow
Income
Low
Income
(D)
Gap Between
Income
Groups of
Students
Massachusetts
80.9
88.4
65.2
23.2
Bristol County
(Selected Districts)
77.6
86
57.1
28.9
Geographic Area
The Percentage of Students in the Class of 2007 That
Graduated High School On Time and Planned on
Attending a 4-Year College or University
90
80.8
80
74.3
70
65.3
60
in %
50
40
34.3
30
23.1
20
15.7
10
0
District A
District B
District C
District D
Top 3 and Bottom 3 Districts
District E
District F
Negative Labor Market Outcomes
Associated with Being a High School Dropout

Labor market outcomes
 Lower rates of labor force attachment
 Lower employment rates
 Lower weekly wages
 Lower annual earnings
 Lower lifetime earnings
 Reduced employee benefits; health
insurance and pension coverage
Employment to Population Ratios of Out of School 16 to 19
Year Olds by Educational Attainment in the U.S., the State of
Massachusetts, City of Boston, City of Springfield, and Suffolk
County, 2004-2005 Averages (in %)
Geographic Area
U.S.
Massachusetts
Suffolk County
Boston city
Springfield city
(A)
(B)
(C)
Total
Out of School
H.S.
Graduates
H.S.
Dropouts
52.7
54.1
39.1
44.2
34.9
61.8
64.6
49.7
65.2
54.0
39.9
38.8
21.8
20.0
24.0
Source: 2004 and 2005 American Community Surveys, public use files,
tabulations by authors.
Employment to Population Ratios of Out of School 16 to 19 Year
Olds by Educational Attainment in the U.S., the State of
Massachusetts, City of Boston, City of Springfield, and Selected
Counties, 2005-2006 Averages (in %)
(A)
(B)
(C)
Geographic Area
Massachusetts
H.S.
Graduate
67.4
H.S.
Dropout
39.9
Graduate
Dropout
27.5
Bristol County
Worcester County
Hampden County
Essex County
Suffolk County
Boston city
Springfield city
Middlesex County
82.0
74.2
63.6
66.0
59.9
55.6
47.1
65.1
38.7
33.0
34.7
39.4
38.9
34.8
27.6
52.0
43.3
41.2
28.9
26.6
21.0
20.8
19.5
13.1
Employment Rates of 16-64 Year Old Adults in
Massachusetts by Educational Attainment and
Gender, 2005 (in %)
Educational Attainment
<12 or 12, no diploma/GED
H.S. diploma/GED
13-15 years
BA degree
Master’s or higher degree
(A)
(B)
(C)
All
Men
Women
55.2
73.4
77.6
82.0
86.0
63.6
79.7
83.6
88.8
90.0
44.8
66.2
72.7
75.8
82.2
Source: 2005 American Community Surveys, public use files, tabulations by authors.
Employment Rates of 16-64 Year Old Native-Born
Adults in Bristol County by Educational Attainment,
2006 (Excluding Those Enrolled in School)
100.0
90.0
86.5
79.3
80.0
84.9
80.0
79.5
70.0
%
60.0
56.4
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
<12 or 12, No
H.S.
Some College
Diploma
Diploma/GED
Bachelor
Degree
Master's or
Higher Degree
All
Employment Rates of 20 Years and Older
Native-Born Male Adult Dropouts and High School
Graduates by Age Group in Massachusetts, 2005
90
84.6
77.1
80
70
82.4
81.1
78.5
HS Dropouts
66.4 HS Graduates
68.4
63.3
60.8
59.7
59.8
60
49.5
50
40
30
20
11.5
14.2
10
0
20-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Employment Rates of Native-Born Male Adult Dropouts,
High School Graduates, and College Graduates by Age
Group in Massachusetts, 2005
100.0
HS Dropouts
HS Graduates
College Graduates
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Mean Annual Earnings of 18-64 Year Old
Adults in Massachusetts by Educational Attainment
and Gender, including Zero Earners, 2005
Educational Attainment
<12 or 12, no diploma or GED
H.S. diploma/GED
13 – 15 years, including
Associate’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s or higher degree
All
(A)
(B)
(C)
All
Men
Women
$16,764
26,013
30,909
50,887
74,562
38,998
$21,554 $10,847
17,524
33,638
24,111
39,263
68,435
96,578
50,082
35,371
53,982
28,372
Source: 2005 American Community Surveys, public use files, tabulations by authors.
Comparisons of the Mean Annual Earnings of
18-64 Year Old Adults by Educational Attainment in
the U.S. and Massachusetts, 2005 (in $1,000)
80
$74.6
$70.3
70
60
$48.2
in $1,000
50
$50.8
40
30
$26.0
$28.4
$30.9
$22.3
20
$14.6
$16.8
10
0
<12 or 12, no
diploma
H.S. Graduate
13-15 Years
Educational Attainment
U.S.
Massachusetts
BA Degree
Master's or
Higher Degree
Mean Annual Earnings of 18-64 Year Olds in
Bristol County in 2006 by Educational
Attainment, Includes Zero Earners
60,000
56,710
50,000
$
40,000
30,000
20,000
29,673
29,267
H.S. Diploma/GED
Some College
18,226
10,000
0
<12 or 12, No Diploma
Educational Attainment
Bachelor or Higher
Degree
Mean Annual Earnings of 18-29 Year Olds
in Bristol County in 2006 by Educational Attainment
(Including Zero Earners But Excluding College
Students)
45,000
38,981
40,000
35,000
30,000
24,863
25,000
$
22,179
20,000
15,000
13,113
10,000
5,000
0
<12 or 12, No Diploma
H.S. Diploma/GED
Some College
Educational Attainment
Bachelor or Higher
Degree
Mean Lifetime Earnings of
18-64 Year Old Massachusetts Adults by
Educational Attainment (in 1000s of 2005 Dollars)
$3,500
$2,963
$3,000
in $1,000
$2,500
$2,203
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$1,221
$1,368
$1,501
$765
$500
$0
<12 or 12, no
diploma
H.S.
Graduate
13-15 Years
Associate
Degree
Educational Attainment
BA Degree
Master's or
Higher
Degree
Differences Between the Mean Lifetime
Earnings of Massachusetts Adults in Selected
Educational Groups, All and by Gender (in $1,000)
Educational Groups Being
Compared
H.S. Graduate vs. High School
Dropout
Associate Degree vs. High School
Graduate
Bachelor’s Degree vs. High School
Graduate
Bachelor’s Degree vs. High School
Dropout
(A)
(B)
(C)
All
Men
Women
$456
$601
$325
280
349
354
982
1,340
710
1,438
1,941
1,035
Trends in the Mean Lifetime Earnings of Male Adults
From Ages 18-64 by Educational Attainment Over
the 1979 to 2005 Period (in 1000s of Constant 2005
CPI-U Dollars)
(A)
Educational
Attainment
<12 or 12, no
diploma/GED
H.S. diploma/GED
13-15 years
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s or higher
degree
1979
(B)
1989
(C)
1999
$1,383 $1,276 $1,104
1,892
2,196
2,836
3,273
1,891
2,165
3,156
3,722
1,672
2,134
3,368
4,133
(D)
(E)
(F)
(G)
1999–
2005
1979–
2005
Per Cent
Change
19792005
$981
$-123
$-402
-29
1,582
1,912
2,933
3,744
-90
-222
-435
-384
-310
-284
+97
+471
-16
-13
+3
+15
2005
Per Cent of 18-64 Year Old Employed
Workers in Massachusetts Who Are Covered by a
Health Insurance or Pension Plan at Work by Educational
Attainment, 2004-2005 Averages
(A)
Educational Attainment
<12 or 12, no diploma or GED
H.S. graduate/GED
13-15 years
B.A. degree
Master’s or higher degree
All
(B)
Health
Pension
Insurance Coverage
36.2
47.6
49.9
67.3
67.5
55.7
24.9
41.5
40.0
58.8
68.4
49.1


Income outcomes
 Higher incidence of income inadequacy problems
over the lifetime (poverty, near poverty, low incomes)
 Higher dependence on cash public assistance
income to support themselves
 Higher dependence on in-kind transfers (food
stamps, rental housing subsidies, Medicaid)
Family outcomes
 Lower marriage rates among men and women
 Higher rates of out-of-wedlock childbearing
 Poorer nutrition, health, cognitive, schooling
outcomes for children of high school dropouts
Percent of 18-29 Year Olds in Bristol County
and Massachusetts Who Were Low Income
in 2006 by Educational Attainment
50.0
46.2
45.0
40.0
38.5
35.0
28.6
30.0
%
26.0
25.0
Bristol County
Massachusetts
23.0
19.5
20.0
16.1
15.0
9.1
10.0
5.0
0.0
<12 or 12, No
Diploma
H.S. Diploma/GED
Some College
Educational Attainment
Bachelor or Higher
Degree
Trends in Marriage Rates Among
20-64 Year Old Native Born Males in Massachusetts
by Educational Attainment, 1980 to 2005 (in %)
(A)
Educational
Attainment
<12 or 12, no
diploma or GED
H.S. graduate/GED
13-15 years
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s or higher
degree
All
(B)
(C)
(D)
1980 1990 2000 2005
(E)
Percentage
Point Change,
1980 – 2005
67.6
53.5
45.9
42.8
-24.8
66.0
53.9
61.2
73.5
54.3
53.2
57.0
73.3
52.2
54.7
59.4
73.9
49.5
53.2
60.4
74.5
-16.5
-.7
-.8
+1.0
63.6
56.7
56.9
56.4
-7.2
Marriage Rates of All Native-Born 18-50 Year
Olds in Bristol County By Educational
Attainment, 2006
80
76.1
70
59.7
60
48.8
47.7
50
in %
43.3
40
30
22.1
20
10
0
<12 or 12, No
Diploma
H.S.
Diploma/GED
Some College
Bachelor
Degree
Master's or
Higher Degree
All
Marriage Rates of Male and Female NativeBorn 18-50 Year Olds in Bristol County By
Educational Attainment, 2006
90
85.7
80
70.5
70
61.1
60
58.5
51.4
in %
51.3
50
42.3
44.7
46.1
42.5
40
30
20
23.8
17.6
10
0
<12 or 12, No
Diploma
H.S.
Diploma/GED
Some College
Male
Bachelor Degree
Female
Master's or
Higher Degree
All
Per Cent of Births to Massachusetts Native Born
Women (15-50 Years Old) That Were Out-ofWedlock by Educational Attainment of the Mother,
2005
90
80
77
70
Per Cent
60
47
50
40
30
23
20
6
10
5
0
<12 or 12 no
diploma
H.S. graduate or
GED
13-15 years
Bachelor's degree Master's or higher
degree
Educational Attainment
Percent of Births Out-of-Wedlock Among 18-50 Year
Old Women in Bristol County and Massachusetts,
2006, by Educational Attainment of Mother
70.0
66.3
60.4
60.0
49.5
50.0
41.0
40.0
%
35.6
28.4
30.0
20.0
10.0
3.9
0.0
0.0
<12 or 12, No Diploma
H.S. Diploma/GED
Some College
Educational Attainment
Bristol County
Massachusetts
Bachelor or Higher
Degree
Per Cent of Massachusetts Families with
Children that Were Poor/Near Poor by
Educational Attainment of the Family Head, 2005
Educational Attainment
<12 or 12, no
diploma/GED
H.S. diploma/GED
13-15 years
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s or higher
degree
All family heads with
children
(A)
(B)
(C)
Families
with
Children
Families with
Children Who
Were Poor or
Near Poor
% Poor or
Near Poor
63,451
25,508
40.2%
193,140
208,318
17,234
139,404
39,316
30,316
6,030
3,568
20.3%
14.7%
3.4%
2.6%
779,547
105,087
13.5
Home Ownership Rates of 18-64 Year Olds in
Massachusetts and Bristol County by
Educational Attainment in 2006
90.0
82.6
80.0
76.1
71.6
70.0
75.8
70.6
64.2
62.7
60.0
50.0
46.8
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
<12 or 12, No Diploma
H.S. Diploma/GED
Bristol County
Some College
Massachusetts
Bachelor or Higher
Degree
Per Cent of 18-64 Year Old Adults in
Massachusetts and the U.S. Reporting Their
Health Status as Fair or Poor, March 2006
25
20
Per Cent
20
18
15
13
13
9
10
9
5
5
5
4
4
0
<12 or 12, no
diploma
H.S.
Diploma/GED
13-15 Years
B.A. or Higher
Degree
Educational Attainment
U.S.
Massachusetts
M.A. or Higher
Degree
Per Cent of 21-24 Year Olds
Who Voted in the 1996 Presidential Election by
Educational Attainment, U.S.
80
73
68
70
59
60
Per Cent
50
62
43
40
30
30
20
15
10
0
H.S.
Dropout
GED
H.S.
Graduate
Some
College
Associate's
Degree
Educational Attainment
Bachelor's
Degree
Master's or
Higher
Degree
Per Cent of Voting Eligible Adults
(18 and Older) Who Voted in the November 2004
Election by Level of Educational Attainment,
Massachusetts Versus the U.S.
100
86.9 85.9
90
81.4 79.3
80
70.7 69.6
70.1
Per Cent
70
64.7
62.6
56.8
60
50
41.7 39.4
40
30
20
10
0
All
<12 or 12, No High School Some College
H.S. Diploma
Graduate
Educational Attainment
Massachusetts
U.S.
Bachelor
Degree
Master's or
Higher Degree
Per Cent of U.S. Adults 25 and
Older Who Did Volunteer Work in 2003 by
Educational Attainment
50
46
45
40
34
Per Cent
35
30
25
22
20
15
10
10
5
0
<12 Years
High School Graduate
1-3 Years College
Educational Attainment
B.A. or Higher Degree


Criminal justice Outcomes
 Higher rates of incarceration in jails and prisons
 Higher victimization costs
 Higher costs of maintaining prisons and jails
Fiscal Outcomes
 Lower payments of payroll and federal/state income
taxes
 Lower property tax payments due to lower home
ownership rates and lower value homes
 Higher receipt of cash transfer incomes and in-kind
transfers (food stamps, rental subsidies, energy
assistance, Medicaid)
 Large net fiscal burdens on rest of taxpayers
Percent Distribution of the
Criminally Sentenced Population in Department of
Correction Facilities by Educational Attainment,
January 1, 2005
Educational Attainment
1-12 Years, No Diploma
High School Diploma, No College
Some College, Including Associate
Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or Higher
Total (With Reported Level of
Educational Attainment)
(A)
(B)
Number
Percent
4,334
1,452
70.4
23.6
258
85
29
4.2
1.4
.4
6,158
100.0
Institutionalization Rates of 18-34 Year Old and 18-60
Year Old Adults by Their Level of Educational
Attainment, Bristol County, 2006 ACS
18
15.7
16
14
in %
12
10
8
6.2
6
4
1.6
2
2.7
2.1
1.2
0.9 1.0
1.8
1.3
0.2 0.0
0
<12 or 12, No
Diploma
H.S.
Diploma/GED
Some College
18-60 Years Old
Bachelor Degree
18-34 Years Old
Master's or
Higher Degree
All
Institutionalization Rates of 18-34 Year Old
Adults by Their Level of Educational Attainment,
Massachusetts, 2006
6.0
5.1
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
<12
12
13-15
B.A. Degree
M.A. or Higher
Institutionalization Rates of 18-34 Year Old
Males by Their Level of Educational Attainment,
Massachusetts, 2006
9
8
7.8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1.7
1
0.4
0.3
0.0
0
<12
12
13-15
B.A. Degree
M.A. or Higher
Lifetime Per Capita Costs of Institutionalization for
Males by Educational Attainment, Massachusetts,
2005
(A)
Educational
Attainment
1-12 Years, No
Diploma or GED
High School Diploma,
No College
Some College,
Including Associate
Degrees
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
(B)
(C)
(D)
Institutionalization
Rate (in %)
Per Capita
Cost
Average
Annual
Cost
(in $)
Average Lifetime
Cost of
Institutionalization
(in $)
4.0
43,025
1,721
80,887
1.9
43,025
817
38,399
0.9
0.2
0.1
43,025
43,025
43,025
387
86
43
18,189
4,042
2,021
Estimates of Tax Payments Made and Transfers
Received By Adults 16 to 64 Years Old By Educational
Attainment, U.S., 2005-2007 (3-Year Averages)
(A)
Educational
Attainment
<12 or 12, No
Diploma
H.S. Diploma/GED
Some College
Bachelor Degree
Master's or Higher
Degree
All
Total Tax
Payments
(B)
(C)
Total Transfers Net Fiscal Impact
including Prison
(Column A Expenditures
Column B)
$
$
$
$
7,461
11,894
13,568
22,137
$
$
$
$
8,832
6,414
5,263
3,527
$
$
$
$
(1,371)
5,480
8,305
18,610
$
$
31,448
17,929
$
$
2,625
4,867
$
$
28,823
13,062
Differences Between Mean Lifetime Net Fiscal
Contributions of Massachusetts Adults in
Selected Educational Groups, 2007
$1,000,000
$939,000
$900,000
$800,000
$700,000
$617,000
$600,000
$500,000
$400,000
$322,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
$High School Graduate Vs.
Dropout
B.A. Degree vs. H.S
Graduate
B.A. Degree vs. H.S.
Dropout