Research summary - 10-year outcomes of high school students

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

Official title of the full report: 10-year outcomes of secondary school students: the role of education preferences and loan aversion

Author of the full report: Social Research and Demonstration Corporation

Alternate formats

Why this study

This research examines how high school students’ opinions of the value of education and financial aid influence their choice to go to post-secondary education (PSE) in four provinces:

• Ontario
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan, and
• Quebec

What we did

This research uses:

• results from the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for Post-Secondary Education among Under-Represented Groups study conducted in 2008 to 2009, during which students were given different options of financial aid, and
• results from a follow-up survey in 2020, when students who participated in the study were employed and were paying off loans from PSE

This research uses survey results to look at:

• characteristics of students
• if students think education is worth the money
• if students needed financial support, and
• how students do in the work force

What we found

• Students who did not think PSE was worth the money were less likely to go to PSE after high school
• Students who did not want to take out a loan were more likely to go to PSE years after high school
• Small amounts of financial aid helped students finish university faster

What it means

The research shows how the views of high school students towards education and financial aid affects when, how, and whether they pursue PSE, which could improve their levels of debt and perception of investment in education. 

Contact us

Learning Branch, Learning Policy & Services Directorate, Policy Planning and Partnerships Division

Email: esdc.nc.sspb.research-recherche.dgpss.cn.edsc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca