Goal 4: ENROLLS in college

The 21st Century global economy demands education beyond high school, whether it is a high-skilled certification, a 2-year or 4-year degree. Students, families and teachers must have access to college and career information and support and financial barriers must be eliminated.

Why Is It Important?

There are many individuals and community benefits of postsecondary education whether it be a two-or four-year degree or technical certification. A few such benefits include: Increased Income The median income of a worker with a high school education is $30,665, while those with at least an Associate's degree earn $37,493. Those with a Bachelor's degree can earn almost twice the median income of a high school graduate, a pattern that continues over the course of a worker's lifetime. Workforce Development A more educated society leads to economic development, which translates to an expansion of work opportunities and increased incomes, resulting in a better quality of life for the community. National employment projections indicate that jobs requiring only a high school degree will grow by just 9 percent by the year 2008, while those requiring a bachelor’s degree will grow by 25 percent and those requiring an associate’s degree with grow by 31 percent. Health and Well-being College graduates have lower smoking rates, more positive perceptions of personal health and lower incarceration rates. Higher levels of education are correlated with higher levels of civic participation including volunteer work, voting and blood donation.