Empirical Research
Preliminary Study of the Relationship Between Undergraduate Learning Outcome Assessment and Estimated Earnings of Graduates
By C.B. Crawford, Lawrence V. Gould, Robert F. Scott, Dane E. Crawford
Volume 6 - Issue 2
May 29, 2008 - 12:29:27 PM

The age of assessment in higher education has offered the professorate an opportunity to provide evidence linking student performance and actual “real world” outcomes. This study focused on the existence of assessment in Kansas and the link between student performance and estimated earnings of graduates. A survey of public Kansas undergraduate departments (n = 76) revealed that most departments have an assessment plan, and most faculty have a moderate level of interest in assessment. Earnings estimates were explored by looking at differences between performance level as well as within performance level. Results suggest that within the same performance level, graduates vary widely in their estimated earnings. More important, graduates between performance levels have significant differences in earnings.