Student Expectations of the Financial Returns to Higher Education in the Czech Republic and England: Evidence from Business Schools

Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com

Y

9

Foreign Countries; College Freshmen; Expectation; Gender Differences; Higher Education; Student Attitudes; Tuition; Educational Demand; Comparative Education; Business Administration Education; Economic Factors; Comparative Analysis; Educational Finance; Educational Policy; Paying for College; Cost Effectiveness; Outcomes of Education; Predictor Variables; Measurement Techniques

Czech Republic; United Kingdom (England)

10.1016/j.econedurev.2011.02.005

0272-7757

In this paper, the short-cut method is used to estimate expected rates of financial returns to higher education in the Czech Republic and a modified version of the method is used to suit the current English system of deferred tuition fees. First year university students were asked to estimate their expected earnings with and without a university degree at two points in time. The findings show that students perceive higher education to be a profitable investment and that rates of return vary by gender as well as by country and place of study. We conclude that the current level of tuition fees in England does not act as a disincentive for students to enter higher education. (Contains 4 tables and 2 figures.)

As Provided

2011

EJ927262