Cardiovascular mortality is one of the most common and preventable causes of death in the United States. CVD mortality is also strongly patterned by social determinants of health. Among these social determinants, education is the most malleable, but how the process of education shapes CVD risk is less understood. In this study, we use the High School and Beyond (HS&B) study to measure early adult CVD mortality and its relationship to academic and social experiences and outcomes in high school. These experiences and outcomes capture the academic and social benefits of the schooling process that matter for CVD. The findings of this study will provide important insights into sites of policy intervention to prevent CVD mortality and further illuminate the broader relationship between education and health.