The Value Of A College Education

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: WOULD $1 MILLION DOLLARS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE? THAT'S NOT A FANTASY TO PONDER. It's the difference between a high school diploma and a college degree. But what would 1 million dollars really mean to you, your children, and community? THE ANSWER: A HIGHER QUALITY LIFE. HIGHER EDUCATION PAYS OFF 2013 NATIONAL MEDIAN EARNINGS $37,000 Annual living wage for a family of four • High school diploma • Bachelor's degree $27,350 $50,050 IN KENTUCKY, NO COLLEGE = LOW WAGES high school grads were still struggling to reach the poverty line three years after graduation $11,670 NATIONAL POVERTY LINE FOR SINGLE PERSON $11,511 $15,080 MEDIAN SALARY 3-YEARS LATER AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL FULL-TIME MINIMUM-WAGE EARNINGS Even a 1% increase in BUT A DEGREE IS MORE THAN JUST A PERSONAL PAYOFF bachelor's degrees adds $938 MILLION TO LOUISVILLE'S ECONOMY HIGHER EDUCATION ONLY AROUND IS NOW A 40% of the US population has a college degree or certificate. REQUIREMENT This number has barely changed in the last 40 years FOR MOST JOBS National data shows there will be around 55 MILLION of jobs in the state of Kentucky NEW JOB OPENINGS THROUGH 2020 62% 2/3 of those will require postsecondary education or are also estimated to require postsecondary education training Unfortunately trends suggest THE MESSAGE BEHIND THE VALUE OF A COLLEGE DEGREE ISN'T GETTING THROUGH TO STUDENTS. LOUISVILLE'S EDUCATION SCORECARD COLLEGE-GOING RATES UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT ARE DECLINING IS ALSO DROPPING In 2013, 80k THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (JCPS) HAT'S A 7% 70k POINT DECLINE 11% DECLINE 60k COLLEGE-GOING RATE OF OVER SIX 50k GRADUATING SENIORS In 2013. 40k YEARS 7,426 DROPPED TO 30k 66% 20k FEWER STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN 10k LOUISVILLE COMPARED TO 2010 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 FEWER STUDENTS COMING BACK A SECOND YEAR STUDENT RETENTION FROM THE FIRST TO SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE DROPPED FROM 60% TO 55% OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS AMONG STUDENTS ATTENDING 2-YEAR INSTITUTIONS IN LOUISVILLE 60% 55% LOUISVILLE'S AUDACIOUS GOAL 41.5% OF LOUISVILLE'S WORKING-AGE POPULATION CURRENTLY HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE 50 48 5% POINT GAP 46 WE'RE NOT 44 | 41.5% ON TRACK TO REACH THE 42 GOAL A 40 22,416 more degree holders 38 38.3% • 55,000 MORE POSTSECONDARY DEGREE HOLDERS IN LOUISVILLE BY 2020 Y 36 34 • 50% OF THE WORKING-AGE POPULATION WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR HIGHER 32 30 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 - # of degree holders - % holding a degree – % goal trend line CC BY 2.0 BY FLICKA @SILICON6400 HOW CAN YOU HELP LOUISVILLE REACH 50%? FIRST-TIME STUDENTS AND PARENTS ADULT LEARNERS EMPLOYERS ANYONE GET THE FACTS ASK FOR HELP GROW YOUR OWN JOIN THE MOVEMENT College is worth the investment of Now more than ever, you will find Everyone benefits from a more More educated workers help businesses grow. An educated workforce attracts companies, time and money. Grants and resources available to help you educated workforce. scholarships are available, especially for those with limited budgets. return to school and earn your degree - all while working and raising a family. jobs and investment needed to keep our community growing. Support your employees to Say 'Count Me In!' and tell us how you will help Louisville reach this bold goal. earn degrees and work with local schools that supply your workforce. Take the Count Me In! pledge today 55000DEGREES.ORG/ TAKE-THE-PLEDGE Visit Visit "Degrees Matter" on 55000DEGREES.ORG to begin building your future today. Visit Degrees At Work at GREATERLOUISVILLE.COM /DEGREESATWORK DESTINATIONDEGREE.ORG to map your road to college success. for resources and assistance LEARN MORE AND READ THE FULL EDUCATION SCORECARD To download the report, visit: 55000DEGREES.ORG/PR14 Sources: EDUCATION SCORECARD http://moveed.org 55,000 Degrees Count me in! http://factfinder.census.gov Table B20004 http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr11-04.pdf https://georgetown.app.box.com/s/til0zkxt0puz45hu21g6 http://www.publicagenda.org/pages/is-college-worth-it-for-me DEVELOPED BY NOWSOURCING http://www.ihep.org/sites/default/files/uploads/docs/pubs/ihep_access-attainment_report_layout_rd5_web.pdf