Table 1.

Outcome variables and correlates from NLTS2 data sources

Measures	Description
Outcomes
Postsecondary Enrollment	Parents and young adults were asked whether they ever attended 4-year college (np5S5a_A3i_ever) or 2-year community college (np5S3a_A3a_ever)
College major	Parents and young adults were asked whether their course of study at postsecondary schools
STEM major	Computer science, programming, information technology (np5s3hs5g_k6fk8e_07) Engineering, electrical, mechanical, chemical (np5s3hs5g_k6fk8e_09) Mathematics and statistics (np5s3hs5g_k6fk8e_16) Science, biology, earth science, geology, physics, chemistry, environmental science (np5s3hs5g_k6fk8e_19)
Non-STEM major	Social sciences (history, political science, economics, sociology, psychology, humanities, public policy, philosophy, religion, urban studies, women’s studies, American studies, ethnic studies, international relations, and social sciences) (np5s3hs5g_k6fk8e_14) Health, health care, medical (np5s3hs5g_k6fk8e_13)
Correlates
Demographic background	Gender (w5_GendHdr2009) Age at wave 5 (W5_Age2009) Race/ethnicity (w5_EthHdr2009) Family income (W5_IncomeHdr2009_detail)
Disability background	Mental functioning skill (np1Mentalskill)* conversation ability (np1B_4i_5d)*

Source: NLTS2, waves 1 and 5.

NLTS2 variable names are in brackets.

^*indicates this variable is from wave 1.

¹STEM fields are based on the NSF mission to support “all fields of fundamental science and engineering” and include majors such as computer science, programming, information technologies, engineering, mathematics and statistics, science, biology, earth science, geology, physics, chemistry, and environmental science. Social, behavioral and economic sciences are not included because the NLTS2 questionnaires combine psychology, economics, political science, sociology (NSF STEM majors), with non-STEM majors such as history, women’s studies, American studies, ethnic studies in one category. We did not include them in the STEM fields.