Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education
PO Box 300201 Chicago, Illinois 60630
www.ilache.com (312) 362-8588
September 30, 2010
To the Whittier Parents Committee:
On behalf of the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE), we would like to express our support of your efforts to create a library for the children of your school. ILACHE is an organization for Latino professionals and those with an interest in Latino higher education. We understand that education is not only a path for individual advancement but is also an important investment in the healthy development of our communities. Therefore, we recognize the significance of your campaign.
ILACHE promotes the advancement of the Latino community through education and advocates for greater representation of Latino youth in colleges and universities in Illinois. One of our goals is to ensure that any Latino youth who desires to pursue a professional career is motivated and given the necessary support to reach their goals. We know that young people do better when their creativity is stimulated. We appreciate the fact that books play a critical role in introducing children to the world in all of its aspects. Books not only help develop minds but also encourage children to dream of a better future in which they play a major role. It is only just that all children be given the resources that can help them to succeed. Therefore, we support you in your efforts to provide the best education you can for the youth of our community.
We wish you success in the struggle to secure the educational rights of your children.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Ortiz, Ed.D.
President
Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
RECESSION DRIVES UP POVERTY LEVELS AMONG LATINO FAMILIES
Recently released data on 2009 by the U.S. Census Bureau reveal increases in poverty among all Americans, reflecting the job losses associated with the peak of the recession, according to new analysis by NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. The data show that more Hispanic families, like other American families affected by the recession, are falling into poverty as a result of joblessness. However, Latinos are more likely to have children, so unemployment among Latinos has a greater effect on overall child well-being.
Latinos with jobs seem to be weathering the storm better, but effective antipoverty programs are also helping. Important programs that deserve continued support include unemployment benefits, food stamps, school lunches, health care, education, housing assistance, and others that mitigate the most negative effects of poverty and unemployment among hard-hit families.
Census findings include the following:
* The Latino poverty rate increased from 23.2% in 2008 to 25.3% in 2009. Twelve million Latinos were counted as poor in 2009, representing an increase of 1.4 million since 2008. In 2009, a four-person family was considered poor if income fell below $21,954.
* Latino median household income was $38,039 in 2009, which was not statistically different from its 2008 level.
* In 2009, the poverty rate for Latinos was 25.3%, compared to 9.4% for Whites and 25.8% for Blacks.
* Poverty is highest among children. The Latino child poverty rate was 33.1%, the poverty rate among Latino adults was 21.4%, and the poverty rate among Latino seniors was 18.3%. Other studies have shown that without Social Security, 50% of Hispanic seniors would be poor.
“Targeted tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit help lift working poor families out of poverty,” said Eric Rodriguez, NCLR Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation.
NCLR continues to support efforts such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expansion of tax credits and incentives for the working poor and the creation of green jobs training and contracting for disadvantaged workers. Not only have these measures helped ensure that families can afford basic food and shelter, but increased wages can fuel business activity and economic growth. Lastly, Social Security helps keep the majority of Hispanic seniors out of poverty and must be protected and strengthened to ensure that it has adequate financing for future generations of Americans.
“Federal efforts, whether to provide children access to healthy food or help parents pay rent, have helped support jobless workers and should continue to play a strong role,” said Rodriguez, “but federal support for families alone is not enough. We need more effective skills training for unemployed workers, and we need more jobs. Doing this well requires business and government to work together on a grander scale and in a deeper way than we’ve seen thus far.”
Latinos with jobs seem to be weathering the storm better, but effective antipoverty programs are also helping. Important programs that deserve continued support include unemployment benefits, food stamps, school lunches, health care, education, housing assistance, and others that mitigate the most negative effects of poverty and unemployment among hard-hit families.
Census findings include the following:
* The Latino poverty rate increased from 23.2% in 2008 to 25.3% in 2009. Twelve million Latinos were counted as poor in 2009, representing an increase of 1.4 million since 2008. In 2009, a four-person family was considered poor if income fell below $21,954.
* Latino median household income was $38,039 in 2009, which was not statistically different from its 2008 level.
* In 2009, the poverty rate for Latinos was 25.3%, compared to 9.4% for Whites and 25.8% for Blacks.
* Poverty is highest among children. The Latino child poverty rate was 33.1%, the poverty rate among Latino adults was 21.4%, and the poverty rate among Latino seniors was 18.3%. Other studies have shown that without Social Security, 50% of Hispanic seniors would be poor.
“Targeted tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit help lift working poor families out of poverty,” said Eric Rodriguez, NCLR Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation.
NCLR continues to support efforts such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expansion of tax credits and incentives for the working poor and the creation of green jobs training and contracting for disadvantaged workers. Not only have these measures helped ensure that families can afford basic food and shelter, but increased wages can fuel business activity and economic growth. Lastly, Social Security helps keep the majority of Hispanic seniors out of poverty and must be protected and strengthened to ensure that it has adequate financing for future generations of Americans.
“Federal efforts, whether to provide children access to healthy food or help parents pay rent, have helped support jobless workers and should continue to play a strong role,” said Rodriguez, “but federal support for families alone is not enough. We need more effective skills training for unemployed workers, and we need more jobs. Doing this well requires business and government to work together on a grander scale and in a deeper way than we’ve seen thus far.”
Thursday, September 23, 2010
2010-2011 MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program
Applications for the 2010-2011 MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program are now being accepted.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Since MALDEF's founding, it has been an organizational hallmark to support the next generation of lawyers who will advance the civil rights of the Latino community. MALDEF's Law School Scholarship Program awards scholarships of varying amounts to several students each year based on their commitment to serve the Latino community through law; their past achievement and potential for achievement; and their financial need.
MALDEF's 2010-2011 Law School Scholarship Application is NOW AVAILABLE at www.maldef.org. It is due to MALDEF by September 30, 2010.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Since MALDEF's founding, it has been an organizational hallmark to support the next generation of lawyers who will advance the civil rights of the Latino community. MALDEF's Law School Scholarship Program awards scholarships of varying amounts to several students each year based on their commitment to serve the Latino community through law; their past achievement and potential for achievement; and their financial need.
MALDEF's 2010-2011 Law School Scholarship Application is NOW AVAILABLE at www.maldef.org. It is due to MALDEF by September 30, 2010.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
I, Too Am America: DREAM Act Rally
PRESS ADVISORY
Contact: Oneka Ijeoma (817) 269-9906
I, Too Am America: DREAM Act Rally
Hundreds of Chicago College Students, University Administrators and Families Rally to Push DREAM Act
What: Youth, Student Organizations, University Administrators, Families, and Community Members will have a press conference and rally in support of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors) by responding to Tuesday’s Senate vote on the Department of Defense Authorization Bill to urge for passage of the DREAM Act. The “I, Too Am America” Rally is a call to action to the community on a national level and a declaration that undocumented youth are contributing Americans dedicated to the well being this country.
When: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 from 3pm to 5 pm
Where: Roosevelt University at Michigan and Congress (Grant Park Entrance Pavilion)
Who: Undocumented Youth, Allies, Immigrant Youth Justice League, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Dominican University President - Donna Carol, Roosevelt University President- Chuck Middleton, Mansfield Institute of Social Justice and Transformation, Latino Policy Forum, Latinos Progresando, Nuestra Voz, P.A.S.O West Suburban Action Project, Kapwa, Filipino Student Organization - Loyola University, Latin American Student Organization - Loyola Univeristy, Latino Alliance-Columbia College, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc., Student Alliance for Immigration Reform, School of Social Work Student Organization, Roosevelt University Sociological Society, Black Student Union.
Why: This week the DREAM Act has gained the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and President Obama. Around the nation, students have responded with more than 10,000 calls a day to senators urging them to vote in favor of the DREAM Act as an amendment to the Department of Defense Bill.
Yesterday the Republican party along with several Democrats filibustered the Defense Appropriation bill which included the DREAM Act and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Now undocumented students who would benefit from the DREAM Act along with the support of educators, University administrators, clergymen and military personnel will express the urgency they feel to be a part of this nation and not let politicians play with the future of the contributions they could and have made to America. We are calling on Senator Reid to introduce the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill before the end of this week.
The DREAM Act is a piece of proposed federal legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for youth who graduate from US high schools, show good moral character, arrived to the US before the age of 16, and complete at least 2 years of college or serve in the armed forces.
Visuals: Hundreds of students students holding signs about wanting to pursue a higher education and students who want to join the military, University administrators making pro DREAM Act statements, people registering others to vote.
Contact: Oneka Ijeoma (817) 269-9906
I, Too Am America: DREAM Act Rally
Hundreds of Chicago College Students, University Administrators and Families Rally to Push DREAM Act
What: Youth, Student Organizations, University Administrators, Families, and Community Members will have a press conference and rally in support of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors) by responding to Tuesday’s Senate vote on the Department of Defense Authorization Bill to urge for passage of the DREAM Act. The “I, Too Am America” Rally is a call to action to the community on a national level and a declaration that undocumented youth are contributing Americans dedicated to the well being this country.
When: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 from 3pm to 5 pm
Where: Roosevelt University at Michigan and Congress (Grant Park Entrance Pavilion)
Who: Undocumented Youth, Allies, Immigrant Youth Justice League, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Dominican University President - Donna Carol, Roosevelt University President- Chuck Middleton, Mansfield Institute of Social Justice and Transformation, Latino Policy Forum, Latinos Progresando, Nuestra Voz, P.A.S.O West Suburban Action Project, Kapwa, Filipino Student Organization - Loyola University, Latin American Student Organization - Loyola Univeristy, Latino Alliance-Columbia College, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc., Student Alliance for Immigration Reform, School of Social Work Student Organization, Roosevelt University Sociological Society, Black Student Union.
Why: This week the DREAM Act has gained the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and President Obama. Around the nation, students have responded with more than 10,000 calls a day to senators urging them to vote in favor of the DREAM Act as an amendment to the Department of Defense Bill.
Yesterday the Republican party along with several Democrats filibustered the Defense Appropriation bill which included the DREAM Act and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Now undocumented students who would benefit from the DREAM Act along with the support of educators, University administrators, clergymen and military personnel will express the urgency they feel to be a part of this nation and not let politicians play with the future of the contributions they could and have made to America. We are calling on Senator Reid to introduce the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill before the end of this week.
The DREAM Act is a piece of proposed federal legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for youth who graduate from US high schools, show good moral character, arrived to the US before the age of 16, and complete at least 2 years of college or serve in the armed forces.
Visuals: Hundreds of students students holding signs about wanting to pursue a higher education and students who want to join the military, University administrators making pro DREAM Act statements, people registering others to vote.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Graduate Enrollment Continues Strong Growth in 2009
Graduate Enrollment Continues Strong Growth in 2009
Increases higher for men, reversing long-term trend
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is reporting today that enrollment of new students at U.S. graduate schools grew 5.5% from 2008 to 2009, compared to 4.5% the previous year. Total enrollment grew 4.7% in 2009 after gaining 3.0% in 2008.
CGS’s annual comprehensive report on trends in graduate education shows that growth in both first-time and total graduate enrollment in 2009 was higher for men than for women, reversing a long-term trend. First-time enrollment of men increased 6.7%, compared to 4.7% for women. In contrast, over the past 10 years first-time enrollment of women grew by an annual average of 5.2%, compared to 4.2% for men.
For the first time since 2004, the enrollment of new international graduate students declined in 2009, by 1.7%, compared to 6.0% growth for U.S. students. From 1999 to 2009, the average annual growth in first-time enrollment was 4.9% for U.S. students and 3.3% for international students.
“The strong growth in first-time graduate enrollment is an indication of the continued high value of graduate education,” said CGS President Debra W. Stewart. “In particular, the 6.0% gain in first-time U.S. enrollment reflects the increasing necessity of a graduate degree to successfully compete in a 21st-century knowledge-based economy,” she added.
Another reversal of a long-term trend occurred among doctoral degrees. While women have long earned the majority of master’s degrees awarded in the U.S., the 2008-09 academic year was the first year ever that women earned the majority (50.4%) of doctorates as well. The one-year increase in doctorates was substantially stronger for women than for men, 6.3% vs. 1.0%.
The report also shows that enrollment trends differed by ethnicity as well as by gender and citizenship. First-time enrollment growth for U.S. minority groups ranged from 6.2% for American Indian/Alaskan Natives to 9.3% for Asian/Pacific Islanders, compared to 5.3% for White, non-Hispanic students.
The report presents statistics on graduate applications and enrollment for fall 2009, degrees conferred in 2008-09, and trend data for one-, five- and ten-year periods. Data are disaggregated for a number of student demographic and institutional characteristics. Other findings include:
[continued] Council of Graduate Schools
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 230 • Washington, DC 20036
(202) 223-3791 • www.cgsnet.org
• Applications for admission to U.S. graduate schools grew 8.3% from 2008 to 2009. The most popular fields were business, engineering, and social & behavioral sciences. However, the fastest one-year growth occurred in health sciences, up 14.6%.
• The three fastest-growing broad fields for first-time enrollment were public administration & services, health sciences, and biological & agricultural sciences. The field with the largest enrollment, education, grew the slowest: just 0.1%, in contrast to an average of 5.7% annually over the last 10 years.
• Between 2008 and 2009, first-time graduate enrollment increased faster at the doctoral level than at the master’s level: 6.3% vs. 5.1%.
• The representation of minority groups in U.S. graduate schools continued to increase in 2009, rising from 28.3% to 29.1% of first-time domestic enrollment.
• The proportion of international students in first-time enrollment fell from 18.0% to 16.5%.
• The proportion of women graduate students remained constant, at about 6 out of 10.
• However, the share of women students varied by citizenship and race/ethnicity: women comprised almost 71% of Black/African American first-time enrollment, compared to just over 42% of international students.
• Similar to the trend in first-time enrollment, growth in total enrollment of men outpaced that of women in 2009, 5.2% to 4.4%, in contrast to the long-term trend. Over the past 10 years, the average annual growth was 4.2% for women, compared to 3.0% for men.
• About three-fourths of all graduate students were enrolled at the master’s level, and almost 90% of graduate degrees conferred in 2008-09 were master’s degrees.
• The number of master’s degrees awarded increased 4.3% and the number of doctoral degrees conferred grew 3.9% between 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1999 to 2009 presents the findings of an annual survey of U.S. graduate schools, co-sponsored by CGS and the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Board. It is the only annual national survey that covers enrollment in all fields of graduate study and is the only source of national data on graduate applications. The report includes responses from almost 700 institutions, which collectively confer about 80% of the master’s degrees and 90% of the doctorates awarded each year.
###
Increases higher for men, reversing long-term trend
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is reporting today that enrollment of new students at U.S. graduate schools grew 5.5% from 2008 to 2009, compared to 4.5% the previous year. Total enrollment grew 4.7% in 2009 after gaining 3.0% in 2008.
CGS’s annual comprehensive report on trends in graduate education shows that growth in both first-time and total graduate enrollment in 2009 was higher for men than for women, reversing a long-term trend. First-time enrollment of men increased 6.7%, compared to 4.7% for women. In contrast, over the past 10 years first-time enrollment of women grew by an annual average of 5.2%, compared to 4.2% for men.
For the first time since 2004, the enrollment of new international graduate students declined in 2009, by 1.7%, compared to 6.0% growth for U.S. students. From 1999 to 2009, the average annual growth in first-time enrollment was 4.9% for U.S. students and 3.3% for international students.
“The strong growth in first-time graduate enrollment is an indication of the continued high value of graduate education,” said CGS President Debra W. Stewart. “In particular, the 6.0% gain in first-time U.S. enrollment reflects the increasing necessity of a graduate degree to successfully compete in a 21st-century knowledge-based economy,” she added.
Another reversal of a long-term trend occurred among doctoral degrees. While women have long earned the majority of master’s degrees awarded in the U.S., the 2008-09 academic year was the first year ever that women earned the majority (50.4%) of doctorates as well. The one-year increase in doctorates was substantially stronger for women than for men, 6.3% vs. 1.0%.
The report also shows that enrollment trends differed by ethnicity as well as by gender and citizenship. First-time enrollment growth for U.S. minority groups ranged from 6.2% for American Indian/Alaskan Natives to 9.3% for Asian/Pacific Islanders, compared to 5.3% for White, non-Hispanic students.
The report presents statistics on graduate applications and enrollment for fall 2009, degrees conferred in 2008-09, and trend data for one-, five- and ten-year periods. Data are disaggregated for a number of student demographic and institutional characteristics. Other findings include:
[continued] Council of Graduate Schools
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 230 • Washington, DC 20036
(202) 223-3791 • www.cgsnet.org
• Applications for admission to U.S. graduate schools grew 8.3% from 2008 to 2009. The most popular fields were business, engineering, and social & behavioral sciences. However, the fastest one-year growth occurred in health sciences, up 14.6%.
• The three fastest-growing broad fields for first-time enrollment were public administration & services, health sciences, and biological & agricultural sciences. The field with the largest enrollment, education, grew the slowest: just 0.1%, in contrast to an average of 5.7% annually over the last 10 years.
• Between 2008 and 2009, first-time graduate enrollment increased faster at the doctoral level than at the master’s level: 6.3% vs. 5.1%.
• The representation of minority groups in U.S. graduate schools continued to increase in 2009, rising from 28.3% to 29.1% of first-time domestic enrollment.
• The proportion of international students in first-time enrollment fell from 18.0% to 16.5%.
• The proportion of women graduate students remained constant, at about 6 out of 10.
• However, the share of women students varied by citizenship and race/ethnicity: women comprised almost 71% of Black/African American first-time enrollment, compared to just over 42% of international students.
• Similar to the trend in first-time enrollment, growth in total enrollment of men outpaced that of women in 2009, 5.2% to 4.4%, in contrast to the long-term trend. Over the past 10 years, the average annual growth was 4.2% for women, compared to 3.0% for men.
• About three-fourths of all graduate students were enrolled at the master’s level, and almost 90% of graduate degrees conferred in 2008-09 were master’s degrees.
• The number of master’s degrees awarded increased 4.3% and the number of doctoral degrees conferred grew 3.9% between 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1999 to 2009 presents the findings of an annual survey of U.S. graduate schools, co-sponsored by CGS and the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Board. It is the only annual national survey that covers enrollment in all fields of graduate study and is the only source of national data on graduate applications. The report includes responses from almost 700 institutions, which collectively confer about 80% of the master’s degrees and 90% of the doctorates awarded each year.
###
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
ILLCF $2000 Scholarships - Deadline Oct. 27, 2010
The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF) was established as a strong voice and resource for the Illinois Latino population and for those that work and live within Latino communities statewide. Through its annual statewide conference and the ILLCF Public Policy Institute, the foundation seeks to successfully empower Latinos to confront critical issues affecting their communities and to increase access to federal, state and community programs in such areas as employment, education, community and social services, health care, housing and other issues.
Annually, the members of the ILLCF select deserving young people of good character and high academic achievement to receive foundation scholarships to help them achieve their educational objectives. This year, the $2,000 scholarships will be granted to current undergraduate college students whose home residence is in Illinois and who are attending Illinois colleges or universities. Scholarships will be awarded on November 19, 2010, during the ILLCF scholarship luncheon at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
Scholarship guidelines are the following:
• An applicant must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student during the fall term of 2010 or the spring term of 2011 at an accredited community college or four-year college or university in Illinois;
• Applicants must be of Latino ancestry;
• The application form must be filled out completely (typed), including a personal statement describing how the scholarship award will help the recipient achieve his or her educational and career goals;
• A letter of recommendation written by the student’s primary academic advisor or major professor must accompany the application in a separate envelope sealed by the person writing the recommendation; and
• Scholarship money must be used in the same academic year as it is granted.
Scholarship Application Form available at
http://www.illcf.org/scholarship.html
Please mail completed applications (including the letter of recommendation) to be received by October 27, 2010, to:
Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation Scholarships
c/o Jesse H. Ruiz
Drinker Biddle
191 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3700
Chicago, Illinois 60606-1698
Annually, the members of the ILLCF select deserving young people of good character and high academic achievement to receive foundation scholarships to help them achieve their educational objectives. This year, the $2,000 scholarships will be granted to current undergraduate college students whose home residence is in Illinois and who are attending Illinois colleges or universities. Scholarships will be awarded on November 19, 2010, during the ILLCF scholarship luncheon at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
Scholarship guidelines are the following:
• An applicant must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student during the fall term of 2010 or the spring term of 2011 at an accredited community college or four-year college or university in Illinois;
• Applicants must be of Latino ancestry;
• The application form must be filled out completely (typed), including a personal statement describing how the scholarship award will help the recipient achieve his or her educational and career goals;
• A letter of recommendation written by the student’s primary academic advisor or major professor must accompany the application in a separate envelope sealed by the person writing the recommendation; and
• Scholarship money must be used in the same academic year as it is granted.
Scholarship Application Form available at
http://www.illcf.org/scholarship.html
Please mail completed applications (including the letter of recommendation) to be received by October 27, 2010, to:
Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation Scholarships
c/o Jesse H. Ruiz
Drinker Biddle
191 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3700
Chicago, Illinois 60606-1698
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Hispanics’ Views on Higher Education
Hispanics now represent the largest minority group in America, and increasing numbers of Hispanic students are enrolling in higher education at institutions of all sizes and types. The Associated Press and Univision, in conjunction with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, conducted a survey via mail, telephone, and Internet with approximately 1,500 Hispanics living in the United States. Thirty-seven percent of respondents were born in the United States, 36 percent were born in Mexico, and the remaining 27 percent were born in other countries. Questions were wide-ranging and covered many facets of social and political life, and included a focus on educational attainment, educational aspirations for children, and views about education-related debt. The survey had a response rate of 40 percent and the margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
FINDINGS
Personal Educational Attainment
The largest percentage of survey respondents had not completed high school (33 percent). Twenty-seven percent were high school graduates, 17 percent had some college education, and 9 percent were college graduates.
More than half of respondents (55 percent) had plans to complete a college degree, while 32 percent indicated college was never in their plans.
The most frequently cited reasons for not completing a college degree included not being able to afford it (32 percent) and having family responsibilities that precluded college (32 percent).
Educational Attainment Expectations for Children
Ninety-four percent of respondents expect that their own child or children will attend college. Only 4 percent reported having no expectation about college.
Seventy-four percent of respondents reported that “attending a four-year college” is the most important goal for a girl to have after high school. Seventy-one percent agree with this statement for a boy. The second-most important goal reported for girls was “attending a community college” (9 percent). For boys, the second-most important goal was “getting a job” (9 percent).
Nearly nine out of ten respondents (87 percent) reported that a college education is important for a person to get ahead in life. Only 9 percent said a college education is “somewhat important,” and 2 percent said college is “not important.”
Cost of a College Degree
Only 22 percent of respondents said they were “comfortable” with taking on long-term debt (such as a mortgage or education loans). Half were “not comfortable,” and 24 percent were “somewhat comfortable.”
However, when asked specifically about taking on education debt, 39 percent of respondents said it was “always a good idea,” and 43 percent said it was “sometimes a good idea.” Only 12 percent said taking on education debt was “never a good idea.”
Almost half of respondents (46 percent) said that they worry “a lot” about not having enough money to send their children to college. This worry was behind only “being unable to pay my bills” (57 percent), and “losing my job” (48 percent).
Source: AAC&U
www.aacu.org/aacu_news/AACUNews10/September10/facts_figures.cfm?utm_source=news&utm_medium=blast&utm_campaign=NewsSept10
FINDINGS
Personal Educational Attainment
The largest percentage of survey respondents had not completed high school (33 percent). Twenty-seven percent were high school graduates, 17 percent had some college education, and 9 percent were college graduates.
More than half of respondents (55 percent) had plans to complete a college degree, while 32 percent indicated college was never in their plans.
The most frequently cited reasons for not completing a college degree included not being able to afford it (32 percent) and having family responsibilities that precluded college (32 percent).
Educational Attainment Expectations for Children
Ninety-four percent of respondents expect that their own child or children will attend college. Only 4 percent reported having no expectation about college.
Seventy-four percent of respondents reported that “attending a four-year college” is the most important goal for a girl to have after high school. Seventy-one percent agree with this statement for a boy. The second-most important goal reported for girls was “attending a community college” (9 percent). For boys, the second-most important goal was “getting a job” (9 percent).
Nearly nine out of ten respondents (87 percent) reported that a college education is important for a person to get ahead in life. Only 9 percent said a college education is “somewhat important,” and 2 percent said college is “not important.”
Cost of a College Degree
Only 22 percent of respondents said they were “comfortable” with taking on long-term debt (such as a mortgage or education loans). Half were “not comfortable,” and 24 percent were “somewhat comfortable.”
However, when asked specifically about taking on education debt, 39 percent of respondents said it was “always a good idea,” and 43 percent said it was “sometimes a good idea.” Only 12 percent said taking on education debt was “never a good idea.”
Almost half of respondents (46 percent) said that they worry “a lot” about not having enough money to send their children to college. This worry was behind only “being unable to pay my bills” (57 percent), and “losing my job” (48 percent).
Source: AAC&U
www.aacu.org/aacu_news/AACUNews10/September10/facts_figures.cfm?utm_source=news&utm_medium=blast&utm_campaign=NewsSept10
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