MEASURING IMPACT
MEASURING IMPACT
WE SOUGHT TO UNCOVER THE IMPACT OF AN
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE ON THE LIVES AND CAREERS OF ADULT
LEARNERS
EIGHT INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY FROM SEPTEMBER 2013 TO FEBRUARY 2014.
THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND…
A TYPICAL RESPONDENT
Graduated between
2008-2013
Was between 24–44 years
old
Worked full or part-time while enrolled
Earned less than $60k
16%
32%38%
11%
4%
Extremely satisfied Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Not very satisfied
Not at all satisfied
A SEPARATE STUDY OF 988 INDIVIDUALS WHO COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL OR RECEIVED A GED RESPONDED THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN
HIGHER EDUCATION.LESS THAN HALF WERE EXTREMELY OR
VERY SATISFIED WITH THEIR JOB.
40% OF BENCHMARK PARTICIPANTSARE VERY OR EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN GETTING A
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
26% ARE VERY OR EXTREMELY LIKELY TO RETURN TO COLLEGE
WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
&
FINANCES AND TIME ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONSTRAINTS TO EARNING A
BACHELOR’S DEGREE.
45%
42%
Somewhat agree
Strongly agree
Classes are too
expensive
Classes are too time
consuming
Somewhat agree
Strongly agree22%
45%
A BACHELOR’SDEGREE PAYS OFF:4.5% UNEMPLOYMENT FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES VS. 8.3% FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
A BACHELOR’S DEGREE ESPECIALLY STARTS PAYING OFF FOUR YEARS OUT FROM
GRADUATION
$0.00
$10,000.00
$20,000.00
$30,000.00
$40,000.00
$50,000.00
$60,000.00
$44,167
$34,054
$38,879
$44,481
41% OF THOSE WITHOUT A DEGREE BUT WHO
HAVE EARNED A CERTIFICATE SAYTHEY CHANGED FIELDS OR CAREERS
70% OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE EARNERSSEE AN INCREASE IN INCOME IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS, SOME DOUBLINGTHEIR SALARY
My degree pr...
73%63%78%
*Benchmark participants were not asked to rate this statement.
EARNING A DEGREE SIGNIFICANTLY HELPS ADULTS REACH THEIR CAREER GOALS
PERCENT WHO “STRONGLY” OR “SOMEWHAT” AGREE THAT “MY
DEGREE PROGRAM EQUIPPED ME WITH SKILLS TO ADVANCE IN MY CAREER*”
Certificate Associate’s
degree
Bachelor’s
degree
INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEGREE-GRANTING OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS REPORT SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER PROGRESS TOWARD CAREER GOALSCAREER GOALS.
ALTHOUGH MANY PARTICIPANTS WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE JOBS, THEY BELIEVE THEIR CREDENTIALS HAVE
HELPED ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS.
85% OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE HOLDERSRESPONDED THAT THEY FELT MORE CONFIDENT IN THEMSELVES AFTER
EARNING THEIR DEGREE
FOR MANY STUDENTS, THERE WAS NO SINGLE STUDENT SERVICE THAT WAS
HIGHLY
VALUED IN TERMS OF WORKPLACE PREPARATION*Financial aid and student support/advising services were most used by respondents
CONCLUSION?INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BETTER COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF ADEGREE
AS WELL AS HELP STUDENTS IDENTIFY THE BREAK-EVEN
POINT
MEASURE THE IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT/JOB
SECURITY
&
AND FINALLY,
ADDRESS TIME AND WORK CONFLICTS WITH MORE HYBRID & ONLINE PROGRAMS
PARTICIPATE IN PHASE 2
Jim Fong Director, UPCEA Center for Research & Consulting
[email protected]: 814.308.8424
Todd BloomChief Academic Officer, Hobsons
[email protected]: 703.859.7386