The “College Gap” in Marriage and Children’s Family Structure
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First, there is a large gap in the share of children living with married parents (or two parents) that favors the children of college-educated mothers, both overall and within race and ethnic groups.
Second, the decline in the share of children living in married parent families primarily reflects an increase in non-marital childbearing, not a rise in divorce.
Third, the widening college gap in children’s family structure corresponds to a widening college gap in marriage rates, both overall and within race and ethnic groups. The paper briefly discusses evidence suggesting a causal link between the eroding economic position of men without a four-year college degree and their declining marriage rates.
Fourth, the rise in the share of children living with an unpartnered mother has happened despite a sizable decrease in births to teens, women in their 20s, and women with less than a high school degree.
Fifth, the college gap in family structure has contributed to the widening college gap in household income, accentuating widening earnings inequality.
