Re-calculating Higher Education’s Pay-off

Academic Inflation:

• In the 1970s, about 1 in 20 people in the old industrialized economies went to college. The current target is one in three, rising to one in two. (Source: Out of Our Minds)

• According to UNESCO, the number of people gaining formal educational qualifications in the next 30 years will exceed the gross total since the beginning of history. (Source: Out of Our Minds)

• According to author, Seth Godin, it isn’t enough to have a college degree today – you must be remarkable!

Percentage of four year college graduates leaving with debt:

• 25%• 47%• 66%• 100%

ANSWER: 66%(Source: In the Basement of the Ivory Tower)

• 25%• 47%• 66%• 100%

Average college student’s debt upon graduation:• Two goats and a cow• $5,000 +• $14,000 +• $20,000 +

ANSWER: $20,000 or more (Source: In the Basement of the Ivory Tower)

• Two goats and a cow• $5,000 +• $14,000 +• $20,000 +

NOTE:

In June of last year the Federal Reserve released new figures showing that the nation's total student loan debt now sits at about $830 billion - for the first time surpassing the nation's credit card debt.

Forty seven million new jobs are projected to be created in the United States by 2018. How many will require a bachelor’s degree?

• One third• One half• Three quarters• All

ANSWER: Only a third of those will require a bachelor's degree or higher.(Source: Pathways to Prosperity report.)

• One third• One half• Three quarters• All