Education Beyond High School
Goal: All residents in Saginaw County will have opportunities for increased earning potential through education.
Measure
There are three measurements used in this category: 1) educational attainment of residents age 25 and older; 2) College readiness of Saginaw County High School graduates (based on ACT); and 3) the largest (by number of students enrolled) institutions of higher education and their economic impact on the region.
Why This Indicator is Important
The educational attainment of the U.S. population is similar to that of many other industrialized countries with the vast majority of the population having completed secondary education and a rising number of college graduates that outnumber high school dropouts. As a whole, the population of the U.S. is becoming increasingly more educated.
Educational attainment has profound impact on income in the United States. The incomes of both men and women increased significantly with higher educational attainment, the increase becoming larger with each level. According to the College Board, a person with a 4-year degree will earn 60% more than a person with a high school degree over the course of their working lives.
With every degree, the annual income of a person increases by an average of $12,000 dollars per year. In Michigan, ACT scores are used to measure College Readiness; this new measurement will impact the county by attracting parents seeking high achieving schools.
Institutions of higher education serve a region through the concept of regional stewardship, which is both economic and social, providing economic impact and accessible qualified persons for the fastest growing segments of the Michigan economy.
Educational attainment has profound impact on income in the United States. The incomes of both men and women increased significantly with higher educational attainment, the increase becoming larger with each level. According to the College Board, a person with a 4-year degree will earn 60% more than a person with a high school degree over the course of their working lives.
With every degree, the annual income of a person increases by an average of $12,000 dollars per year. In Michigan, ACT scores are used to measure College Readiness; this new measurement will impact the county by attracting parents seeking high achieving schools.
Institutions of higher education serve a region through the concept of regional stewardship, which is both economic and social, providing economic impact and accessible qualified persons for the fastest growing segments of the Michigan economy.
How Are We Doing?
For data from the 2010 Census (2007-2009), Saginaw County ranks higher than the national average in residents with a high school diploma, but is well below the U.S. and Michigan averages in percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree (18%).
Although, Saginaw has a higher percentage of residents with some college and an associate’s degree than the U.S. and Michigan, the county has a lower rate of residents with a completed college degree. College readiness of Saginaw graduates is well below national standards. Only two districts are above the national percentage of 24% of 11th graders meeting college readiness in all subjects, and only six of the 13 districts are above the state average of 16% of 11th graders meeting readiness for college in all subjects. In five of the 13 districts less than 9% meet the standards with 2 districts (Carrollton and Buena Vista) having less than 1% college ready.
The data for Saginaw County regarding institutions of higher education is measured by analyzing the largest 5 institutions of higher education by enrollment and economic impact. Saginaw Valley State University is the only institution headquartered in the County, although four other institutions have significant students in outreach campuses. Delta College is the only two-year institution that serves students in the area. Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University enroll over 20,000 students and have invested over $300 million in the county over the past 20 years.
Although, Saginaw has a higher percentage of residents with some college and an associate’s degree than the U.S. and Michigan, the county has a lower rate of residents with a completed college degree. College readiness of Saginaw graduates is well below national standards. Only two districts are above the national percentage of 24% of 11th graders meeting college readiness in all subjects, and only six of the 13 districts are above the state average of 16% of 11th graders meeting readiness for college in all subjects. In five of the 13 districts less than 9% meet the standards with 2 districts (Carrollton and Buena Vista) having less than 1% college ready.
The data for Saginaw County regarding institutions of higher education is measured by analyzing the largest 5 institutions of higher education by enrollment and economic impact. Saginaw Valley State University is the only institution headquartered in the County, although four other institutions have significant students in outreach campuses. Delta College is the only two-year institution that serves students in the area. Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University enroll over 20,000 students and have invested over $300 million in the county over the past 20 years.
How Can You Have An Impact?
- Encourage area students to pursue higher education.
- Let students know the benefits of a college degree at an early age.
- Help your teenager prepare for college during their high school years.
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