What does a quality education mean to you?

Lifelong learning is a noble endeavor, and providing multiple and varied opportunities is necessary for a citizenry that must continuously adapt to changing societal and economic conditions.

Education provides considerable added benefits to individuals, and society and the economy in general.

Individuals:

There is a strong relationship between levels of education and earnings.  Generally, those who have completed high school earn more than those who have not; people with a bachelor degree earn more than those with just a high school diploma; and those with a graduate education and higher earn even more than those with an undergraduate degree.

In fact, in 2005, the typical full-time year-round worker in the United States with a four-year college degree earned 62% more than they typical full-time year-round worker with a high school diploma-on average, that's $50,900 compared to $31,500.  

In addition to earning higher wages, college graduates are more likely than others to enjoy employer-provided health insurance and pension benefits. 

Over an entire career, an individual with a bachelor's degree earns on average in excess of $1 million more than a counterpart with a high school diploma.  

Society:

Higher education enriches the quality of life for Nevadans through benefits from research, the arts, the humanities, civic engagement, faculty service, and educated alumni.

Social benefits in regions with high proportions of college graduates include lower crime rates, lower health care costs and higher wages for all workers.

Higher levels of education correspond to lower unemployment and poverty rates.  So, in addition to contributing more tax revenues than others may contribute, adults with higher levels of education are less likely to depend on social safety-net programs, thus generating less demand on public budgets.

Economy:

A state's investments in public universities and colleges generate significant jobs, additional spending, and increased tax revenues and are powerful engines for economic stability and growth in the cities and towns where they are located.

Other states spend significantly more per capita than Nevada on higher education:  Wyoming--$704.54, New Mexico--$521.48, Mississippi--$317.70.  Nevada--$242.12

Colleges and universities aid their local communities by providing a significant number of jobs and construction projects and increased personal spending by employees, visitors and students.

The future economic success of Nevada depends on an educated, trained workforce and an entrepreneurial environment supported by first-rate higher education.

Higher Education - Economic Impact