It is well-established that children with out-of-home care (OHC) experience perform poorly in the educational system. However, we know less about their educational pathways over the life course. Utilizing longitudinal prospective survey and register data with a follow-up to more than 60 years of age, this study compared educational outcomes over the life course between children with OHC experience and their same-aged peers. Moreover, by means of multi-group path analysis, the study explored differences in educational pathways. The results showed that the OHC group had lower school grades in sixth grade, in ninth grade as well as lower educational attainment in middle age. Cognitive ability and previous school performance had the largest associations with the outcomes in both groups. Yet, these predictors had significantly weaker influence in the OHC-group. Conversely, the birth family’s attitude towards higher education was more important among children with OHC experience. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
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