Against All Odds or by Dint of Privilege? Happiness and Life Satisfaction Returns to College in America

Abstract

Health gains linked to a college degree appear to be contingent on childhood socioeconomic background, with disadvantaged individuals typically showing the greatest gains in physical health. However, contingent gains in subjective well-being remain unexplored. This study examines happiness and life satisfaction gains linked to college degree attainment, using representative U.S. data spanning recent decades (from the General Social Survey 1972–2014). For women, happiness and life satisfaction gains linked to college are highest for those who were least likely to attend and graduate based on their family economic circumstances. In contrast, men show the highest life satisfaction gains from college when coming from privileged family backgrounds. These findings fall in line with gender and institutional perspectives on education and life chances. For both sexes, college disparities in life satisfaction show substantial variation across cohorts and the life course.