Value of University System of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Education
November 5, 2003
Charles Harmon Director of University Relations
Value of University System of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Education
The economic value of a degree from Valdosta State University
continues to rise and Lowndes County is one of several ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ
counties gaining the most educational value through the employment
of graduates of the University System, a new report on higher
education in ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ shows. The report on recent graduates of the
University System of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ (USG) states that a college degree is
worth an average of $14,000 a year more than a high-school graduate
could expect to make. Over the course of a working career, the
average graduate of a public college or university in ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ can
expect to earn nearly $1 million more than a high-school-educated
neighbor. The educational value to Lowndes County through the
employment of graduates of the University System of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ is
$11.4 million.
Commissioned by the USG's Intellectual Capital Partnership Program
(ICAPP), the ?Value of University System of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Education?
study was conducted by researchers at the ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Institute of
Technology. The authors analyzed the earnings of nearly 90,000
University System students who graduated between 1993 and 1997 and
found that, overall, the increased earnings resulting from their
college degrees added $1.25 billion to the state's economy during
1998?the most recent year for which data was available.
The report shows that a person without a college degree will make
an average of $12,502 less than a recent Valdosta State University
graduate. Additionally, the report indicates that Valdosta State
University graduates made an average of $30,934 in 1998. ?The
economic value of college graduates is so massive, so widespread
and so long-lasting that we tend to take it for granted,? said Bill
Drummond, a professor in ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Tech's City and Regional Planning
Program, who collaborated with Jan Youtie, a researcher in ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ
Tech's Economic Development Institute (EDI), in preparing the
report.
?As our funding partners struggle with grave budget issues, I would
encourage them not to harm this generator of economic growth,? said
University System Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith. ?ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ so far
has resisted the trend we see in many states to reduce
substantially the state's investment in higher education,? he
noted.
In addition to measuring the value of a college education the
report looked at the educational specialties that offer the
greatest financial rewards, the demand for specific college
disciplines, occupations in which shortages are anticipated and
migration patterns related to occupational needs. Not surprisingly,
the programs with the greatest earnings potential are professional
degrees in dentistry, medicine and law. ?It is interesting to note
the report shows that business administration, nursing and teaching
are the programs with the greatest total economic impact, and these
are areas where we already have major impact,? said ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ President
Dr. Ronald M. Zaccari. He added that the report also found
significant shortages of labor among elementary and kindergarten
teachers, registered nurses, pharmacists, and in various technical
medical and clinical laboratory fields.
?Our whole approach to Strategic Planning is to position Valdosta
State University to be a key partner in providing our students and
the citizens of our region with the best options in higher
education,? said Zaccari. ?We are delighted that this report shows
that ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ is fulfilling its mission as a productive regional
university.?
(EDITORS: Full copies of ?The Value of University System of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ
Education? may be downloaded fro m the ICAPP website at:
News releases detailing the economic impact of specific USG
institutions also may be found at this address.)
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