Bi-weekly updates on Initiatives at Maryland's Community Colleges
January 20, 2017

View this email in your browser

IN A CRAB SHELL

With nearly half the undergraduate population of Maryland enrolled at 16 colleges, on 23 campuses and 1000+ locations, it can be challenging to capture and share all that’s happening at Maryland’s community colleges.
-- However, with In A Crab Shell, we are going to try. --
Similar to the more well-known phrase in a nutshell, -- In A Crab Shell provides a concise, bi-weekly discussion of issues important to higher education and the
State of Maryland.

THE PROBLEM
Cost of Higher Education

THE RESULT -
$1.4 TRILLION IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT

Source above link: Data from Federal Reserve, graph and rate of growth evenly divided over 1 year by StartClass / Graphiq

SOURCE: The Education Trust, https://edtrust.org/our-resources/infographics/?q =

$1.4 TRILLION -- National Student Loan Debt

$2701 per second -- Rate of Growth*

Student loan debt is growing faster than average U.S. salaries
Debt increasing due to reduced government support **

* Source: Data from the Federal Reserve, graph and rate of growth evenly divided 1 year by Graphiq
** Source: Time.com/money/ - Jan 11, 2016

SOURCE: American Association of State Colleges and Universities, http://aascu.org/ via edtrust.org

REDUCED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT LEAVES STUDENTS:

1. Borrowing more,
2. Enrolling in lower-cost colleges, or
3. Foregoing college completely.

Flat U.S. family income since 2000
Sinking government support
Higher costs borne by families

Declines in bachelor's degree attainment among low- and moderate-income students*

Enrollment shift to lower-cost colleges, or no college at all, has been responsible for a decline in bachelor’s degree attainment among low- and moderate-income students.*

* Source: Time Magazine, Jan 11, 2016

SOURCE: The Education Trust, https://edtrust.org/our-resources/infographics/?q=

Low- and moderate-income families are particularly hard hit.

SOLUTIONS ACROSS AMERICA

America's College Promise Act of 2015

Immediately following introduction of the America's College Promise Act of 2015, states and cities across the U.S. began introducing their own College Promise versions.

TENNESSEE OREGON MINNESOTA KENTUCKY

SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures

"The economic and social future of SREB states depends in large part on substantially increasing the number of residents with postsecondary degrees and certificates of value."

"Declining affordability could continue to constrain college enrollment and prevent states from reaching educational attainment levels and the competitive workforce required by the global knowledge-based economy."

-- SOUTHERN REGIONAL EDUCATION BOARD, Executive Summary, Shared Responsibility for College Affordability

MARYLAND'S SOLUTION

MARYLAND INVESTS

$60,000,000 is just 6% of the community colleges' annual contribution to Maryland's economy.

Economic Contribution of Maryland's Community Colleges

$992,600,000

per year

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists, Int’l (Emsi), publ: 12.2016

Tweet this

Forward to a friend

Bi-weekly updates on Initiatives at Maryland's Community Colleges January 20, 2017