In 2018, inflation was 2.4 percent while the average increase in college tuition at public universities in Michigan was 1.2 percent and was just 1.0 percent at independent, non-profit colleges and universities.
The rising cost of higher education is a common discussion topic. Institutions of higher education know that the cost of attendance is an extremely important factor to consider for families and students. In Michigan, colleges and universities work hard to keep tuition affordable for all students.
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Independent higher education institutions enroll strong numbers of minorities in undergraduate education programs.
The minority population in the state of Michigan represents about 21 percent of the total state population. However, at higher education institutions and community colleges, that percentage goes up to 30 percent or greater.
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Michigan is a declining enrollment state for higher education with fewer high school students, and thus graduates, attending college. Enrollment trends, however, differ depending on which student group is being analyzed.
For minority students, undergraduate enrollment in four-year degree programs remains strong.
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Grants and scholarships are meaningful for Michigan's students. Receiving a grant to help pay for college helps students not only reduce the amount of loans they need to take but also reduces financial anxiety around paying for college leading to better outcomes.
The Michigan Tuition Grant gives students with financial need an extra boost in funding and also encourages students to complete their degree on time.
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Welcome to the first Independent Indicators issue of 2019!
MICU member institutions have awarded 117,301 bachelor's degrees over the past decade (2008-2017). This represents 22 percent of the total bachelor's degrees awarded in Michigan between 2008 and 2017.
Also, with 20 percent growth in the number of degrees awarded since 2008 and a continuing strong number of awards conferred each year, Michigan's independent colleges and universities are a significant contributor to Michigan's talent needs.
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The rising cost of college and the need to control it has been a drumbeat heard consistently for the past several years in Michigan. However, the opposite is true. Real college costs in Michigan are, in fact, falling and have been for the past four years.
Whether students attend an independent, non-profit college or university or choose a public university, the average cost of attendance is falling in comparison to inflation.
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Higher education attainment needs to be a priority for Michigan. Nationally, states with greater numbers of individuals with a college degree or postsecondary credentials have higher incomes, less poverty, and increased economic success.
Expanding access to higher education for all learners regardless of age or ability to pay is essential for Michigan to ensure that more individuals are able to earn a degree.
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The number of individuals earning a bachelor's degree from an independent, non-profit college or university in Michigan has increased 32 percent to nearly 13,000 annually since 2003.
Independent, non-profit colleges and universities in Michigan are contributing talent to Michigan's economy and the numbers are on the rise. Since 2003, the number of individuals earning a bachelor's degree at an independent institution in Michigan has increased by 32 percent.
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Individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher have stronger employment rates than before the recession. Those with less than a bachelor's degree have not fully recovered.
While unemployment is at an all-time low, many individuals are still struggling. Those without a college education have still not pulled out of the recession.
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