The Future Won’t Wait Until We’re Ready

We need to start developing its leaders today to change lives for generations to come.

Education is the Door to Opportunity

Many first-generation college students come from lower-income households and will likely incur more college debt. (SOURCE: Best Colleges)
First-generation college students received the lowest percentage of merit-only and institutional grants when compared to students with parents who had some postsecondary education. (SOURCE: Best Colleges)
The average cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century, with an annual growth rate of 7.1%.
The average student loan debt per borrower in the United States was $39,950 in 2020, according to the Institute for College Access & Success.
The average student spends 20 years paying off loans.
As of 2020, 45 million borrowers owed money on their student loans, translating to roughly 1 in 4 American adults. (Source: Federal Reserve)
As of 2020, 7.7 million borrowers defaulted on their federal student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, 3.7 million borrowers were in forbearance or deferment, and 1.1 million borrowers defaulted on their private student loans.

92% of Team Members enrolled in this program are still working at the same restaurant location one year later.
Employees who participate in an Employer-Sponsored Higher Education program are 76% more likely to stay with their current employer. (Source: Gallup)
Employees who participate in an Employer-Sponsored Higher Education program report higher job satisfaction and increased engagement, which can lead to a 34% increase in productivity. (Source: SHRM Foundation)
Offering an Employer-Sponsored Higher Education program demonstrates that an employer is committed to their employees’ growth and development. This can create a positive company image and increase its attractiveness to potential job candidates. (Source: HR Daily Advisor)
84% of job seekers consider Employer-Sponsored Higher education important when considering a new job. (Source: HR Daily Advisor)
Online education has expanded access to higher education for low-income families. (Source: National Center for Education Statistics)
Online education can help low-income students to advance in their careers. 45% of online students reported that their degree helped them to get a job or promotion, and 48% reported a salary increase. (Source: Learning House)

Through volunteer work, leadership, and philanthropic contributions, university graduates enrich the civic and economic life of their communities. (SOURCE: APLU)
Compared with individuals whose highest degree is a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree holders are 24 percent more likely to be employed, 3.5x less likely to be impoverished, and nearly 5x less likely to be imprisoned. (SOURCE: APLU)
They also contribute more in taxes and are less reliant on government services than their peers whose highest degree is a high school diploma. (SOURCE: APLU)
College graduates are more than twice as likely to volunteer and give 3.5 times more money to charity than non-college graduates (SOURCE: APLU).