Cuts to Higher Education

Cuts to Higher Education Higher education is a pathway to prosperity and economic security. Access to higher learning is critical, for young Washingtonians looking to take the first step into adulthood and older workers looking to gain new skills. While Washington residents have worked hard in school and in the workplace, the state has continually failed to make the investments necessary to ensure affordable and widely accessible higher learning to middle class families across the state. 1 ...while need goes unmet. In 2010, one in four students eligible for state need grants were unable to receive them due to lack of funding. Unfortunately, state Higher education is key to stable employment opportunities. support for higher education has fallen. Unemployment Rates by Education Level, 2010 $1.41 4 5.1% The amount lawmakers have Bachelors Degree and Higher cut funding for higher education since 2009. 10.1% The Bottom Line? High School Graduate, no College Future prosperity in Washing- ton state is directly linked to our investments in higher learning. Adequately funding higher education gives all Washington residents a chance to shape a better life for themselves and a more | As a result, students are paying over half of higher education costs... Plus it pays! Tuition Four year institutions Median weekly State Funding $400 72% earnings of 65% someone with a bachelor's degree are $400 more than prosperous Washington for everyone. Learn more at: TUE INITED STVTES OF AMERCA someone with just a high school diploma! budgetandpolicy.org 12 12 35% LijeExperience 28% University FY 2000 FY 2013 12 in billion a week