Effects of College on Students

The effects of college on students refer to the outcomes that students gain from participating in postsecondary education. Research since the 1970s has broadened understanding of college outcomes from more tangible gains such as degree attainment to more intangible benefits, including cognitive and intellectual development, moral and civic development, and identity development. The public’s expectations of outcomes realized from a college education have shifted as well. Postsecondary education is often viewed by the public as a pathway to career advancement. This entry provides an overview of the effects of college on students, then focuses on the frameworks that undergird understanding the effects of college on students, what these effects are, and possible directions for future research.