Strengthening Our Public Investment in Higher Education

As centers of education, research, and innovation, public colleges and universities spur economic development throughout the state. They help train and educate our ever-growing workforce, ensuring our state remians competitive in the global economy.

Access to higher education is also a key contributor to family economic security and upward mobility. Since 1980, median family incomes have risen steadily for adults with four-year or graduate degrees, but have stagnated or declined for those with lower levels of education. Children from lower income families who do earn a college degree are particularly likely to make higher incomes as adults.

Yet over the past two decades, Washington state’s financial support for higher education has not kept pace with population growth and rising costs.

To ensure a strong foundation for Washington, we must increase public investment in higher education. Doing so will require identifying new sources of public revenue, but will result in a stronger state economy -- supported by a highly trained and educated workforce.

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Featured Publication

Pay It Forward: Refinancing Higher Education to Restore the American Dream

10.26.2012 | Growing numbers of Washington’s high school graduates are losing their shot at the American Dream. It is time to radically rethink how Washington state finances its public colleges and universities, so the American Dream stays within reach of every student willing to put in the time and effort to succeed in school.

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