As the 2016-2017 academic year draws near, it’s important to remember what our colleges and universities do for our local communities. Most of us know that people who earn a college degree are likely to earn more money than people who have not completed college. However, the benefits to our communities and to society as a whole extend far beyond the individual worker.
Since college graduates generally make more money, they pay higher income taxes, which help support our local, state, and national economies. Furthermore, there is a greater chance degree recipients will have full-time jobs that provide retirement benefits and health insurance. College graduates are also less likely to be incarcerated; for every four high school graduates who are imprisoned, only one college graduate is imprisoned. It costs California taxpayers more than $47,000 per year to house one inmate; it’s much less expensive to educate a person and the benefits of an education are exponential.
College graduates are more likely to vote. College graduates are more likely to volunteer. College graduates are more likely to be involved in their children’s education. Together, we can increase our college graduation rates.
-- Andrea Devitt - SLO
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