Measuring Impact: A Pilot Study of Adult Student Gains and Satisfaction

MEASURING IMPACT

WE SOUGHT TO UNCOVER THE IMPACT OF AN

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE ON THE LIVES AND CAREERS OF ADULT

LEARNERS

EIGHT INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY FROM SEPTEMBER 2013 TO FEBRUARY 2014.

THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND…

A TYPICAL RESPONDENT

Graduated between

2008-2013

Was between 24–44 years

old

Worked full or part-time while enrolled

Earned less than $60k

16%

32%38%

11%

4%

Extremely satisfied Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Not very satisfied

Not at all satisfied

A SEPARATE STUDY OF 988 INDIVIDUALS WHO COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL OR RECEIVED A GED RESPONDED THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN

HIGHER EDUCATION.LESS THAN HALF WERE EXTREMELY OR

VERY SATISFIED WITH THEIR JOB.

40% OF BENCHMARK PARTICIPANTSARE VERY OR EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN GETTING A

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

26% ARE VERY OR EXTREMELY LIKELY TO RETURN TO COLLEGE

WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

&

FINANCES AND TIME ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONSTRAINTS TO EARNING A

BACHELOR’S DEGREE.

45%

42%

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

Classes are too

expensive

Classes are too time

consuming

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree22%

45%

A BACHELOR’SDEGREE PAYS OFF:4.5% UNEMPLOYMENT FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES VS. 8.3% FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

A BACHELOR’S DEGREE ESPECIALLY STARTS PAYING OFF FOUR YEARS OUT FROM

GRADUATION

$0.00

$10,000.00

$20,000.00

$30,000.00

$40,000.00

$50,000.00

$60,000.00

$44,167

$34,054

$38,879

$44,481

41% OF THOSE WITHOUT A DEGREE BUT WHO

HAVE EARNED A CERTIFICATE SAYTHEY CHANGED FIELDS OR CAREERS

70% OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE EARNERSSEE AN INCREASE IN INCOME IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS, SOME DOUBLINGTHEIR SALARY

My degree pr...

73%63%78%

*Benchmark participants were not asked to rate this statement.

EARNING A DEGREE SIGNIFICANTLY HELPS ADULTS REACH THEIR CAREER GOALS

PERCENT WHO “STRONGLY” OR “SOMEWHAT” AGREE THAT “MY

DEGREE PROGRAM EQUIPPED ME WITH SKILLS TO ADVANCE IN MY CAREER*”

Certificate Associate’s

degree

Bachelor’s

degree

INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEGREE-GRANTING OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS REPORT SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER PROGRESS TOWARD CAREER GOALSCAREER GOALS.

ALTHOUGH MANY PARTICIPANTS WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE JOBS, THEY BELIEVE THEIR CREDENTIALS HAVE

HELPED ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS.

85% OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE HOLDERSRESPONDED THAT THEY FELT MORE CONFIDENT IN THEMSELVES AFTER

EARNING THEIR DEGREE

FOR MANY STUDENTS, THERE WAS NO SINGLE STUDENT SERVICE THAT WAS

HIGHLY

VALUED IN TERMS OF WORKPLACE PREPARATION*Financial aid and student support/advising services were most used by respondents

CONCLUSION?INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BETTER COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF ADEGREE

AS WELL AS HELP STUDENTS IDENTIFY THE BREAK-EVEN

POINT

MEASURE THE IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT/JOB

SECURITY

&

AND FINALLY,

ADDRESS TIME AND WORK CONFLICTS WITH MORE HYBRID & ONLINE PROGRAMS

PARTICIPATE IN PHASE 2

Jim Fong Director, UPCEA Center for Research & Consulting

jfong@upcea.eduPhone: 814.308.8424

Todd BloomChief Academic Officer, Hobsons

todd.bloom@hobsons.comPhone: 703.859.7386