The Effect of Quebec’s CEGEPs on Total Years of Schooling

Abstract

We describe the CEGEP ( collèges d’enseignement général et professionnel) innovation of the late 1960s in Quebec and study its early effect on total years of schooling in the province, with Ontario as control. We first compare the broad trends in post-secondary enrolment and credentials in Quebec and Ontario over the long period of 1960–2018. We then estimate the effect of the CEGEP reform on total years of schooling of the cohorts that were initially treated. To this end, we apply a simple difference-in-differences methodology to 2001 Census microdata for Francophone and Anglophone men and women. We find that the effect of CEGEPs has been broadly positive and significant.