Education strategies to improve post-secondary outcomes

How does post-secondary education affect economic mobility?

A post-secondary degree or credential is the surest way to achieve upward economic mobility. ¹

Without a college degree, a child born to a low-income family has a 45 percent chance of remaining in the bottom quintile of earnings as an adult. With a college degree, a child born to a family in the lowest quintile of income has an 84 percent chance of moving into a higher quintile as an adult.

Obtaining a post-secondary degree significantly increases an individual’s lifetime earnings. ^{2 3}

In 2016, individuals with a high school degree aged 25-34 earned an average approximately $32,000 per year. Individuals with an associate’s degree earned an average of over $38,000, those with a bachelor’s degree or higher earned an average of nearly $60,000.

Parents with a post-secondary degree are able to access higher quality employment, which allows them to spend more time with and resources on their children. ⁴

On average, mothers with a college degree spend 4.5 more hours every week engaging with their children than mothers with only a high school diploma or less.

The return on investment in earning an associate’s, professional, or bachelor’s degree exceeds 15 percent. ⁵