A study compared the economic and noneconomic effects of various combinations of high school curriculum and postsecondary school-to-work transition patterns. Data for the study were obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort (NLS Youth). In some cases, the 1979 data from the high school class of 1972 database supplemented the NLS Youth, and, for noneconomic outcomes, class of 1972 data were used exclusively. These data indicated that high school vocational education is associated with a clear wage advantage for vocational graduates in jobs related to their area of training. Postsecondary education also appeared to add to this advantage. Although vocational education brought an increase in labor force participation for white women, no significant relationship between vocational education and employment stability was found for other demographic groups. Noneconomic outcomes of participation in a high school vocational education program turned out to be more difficult to assess; however, the noneconomic benefits of participation in postsecondary education were clear. Those who achieved a postsecondary degree were more likely to register and vote and to accept as positive the current societal trend toward broadening the role of women in the labor market. The earnings advantage of vocational education was most pronounced among white males and did not exist at all for minorities of either sex. The policy implications of these findings were examined. (Technical discussions of the survey data sources are appended, and 34 references end the document.) (MN)