|
|
The Importance of Higher Education
Postsecondary education is the critical pathway to leading individuals and their families out of poverty*.
Of all the ways to increase opportunity, education is arguably the most important. Education improves an individual's life and the lives he or she will come into contact with*.
According to a 2007 report from the College Board, the level of education a person acquires is likely to influence almost every facet of a person's life*.
Earnings: Across all racial and ethnic groups and for both men and women, the more education you have, the higher your earnings. Those with some college but no degree earned 18 percent more than their peers with just a high school degree. Those with a associate's degree earned 29 percent more and those with a bachelor's earned 62 percent more*.
Education is the critical tool in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Parental education has been estimated to be the most important driver of children's future income - more important than race, health, or family assets. Children of parents with higher levels of education attainment are more likely to be healthier, better prepared for school, and more involved in all types of extracurricular activities than other children*.
|
