Complete College America

              WHY COLLEGE
COMPLETION IS IMPORTANT
For the first time in our history, the current generation
of college-age Americans will be less educated than
their parents'generation. Unless things change quickly,
our nation and state will not be competitive globally.
Oklahoma's economy is projected to produce more than
500,000 job openings by 2018, and more than 313,000
of those openings will require a college education.
Education vs. Salary & Employment Rates
15   10    5    0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
2.4%
1.9%
4.0%
5.4%
7.0%
9.2%
10.3%
14.9%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IN 2010
PROFESSIONAL
DEGREE
DOCTORATE
DEGREE
MASTER'S
DEGREE
BACHELOR'S
DEGREE
ASSOCIATE
DEGREE
SOME COLLEGE
NO DEGREE
HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATE
LESS THAN
HIGH SCHOOL
t—i—i—i—i—i—r
$148,659
$116,305
$87,913
$68,812
$49,835
$47,484
$39,937
$30,958
ANNUAL SALARIES
IN 2009
Currently, unemployment rates are almost twice as
high for those with just a high school diploma (10.3
percent) compared to those with a bachelor's degree or
higher (5.4 percent), and the average annual salary for
a degree holder is significantly higher.
Our students don't just need
to go to college; they need to
complete college.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations, do not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, handicap or status as a
veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions,
employment, financial aid and educational services.
This publication, printed by Central Services, is issued by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education, as authorized by 70 O.S. 2001, Section 3206. 200 copies have been printed at a cost
of approximately $54. Copies have been deposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the
Oklahoma Department of Libraries. This publication was produced in May 2012.
Corporate Supporters
Five national foundations are providing multiyear
support to Complete College America:
H FORDFOUNDATION
E 1450.1  C737c 5/2012  c.2
W.K.
KELLOGG
FOUNDATION"
BILL^MELINDA
GATES foundation
A
Lumina"
FOUNDATION
The Carnegie Corporation
of New York
Oklahoma Leadership Team
Gov. Mary Fallin
Chancellor Glen D. Johnson
Secretary of Education Phyllis Hudecki
Secretary of Commerce Dave Lopez
President Janet Cunningham,
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
President Tom McKeon,
Tulsa Community College
OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
Improving our future By degrees
For More Information
Glen D. Johnson, Chancellor,
Oklahoma State System of Higher
Education, chancellorjohnson@osrhe.edu
Phil Moss, Interim Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs, pmoss@osrhe.edu
Tony Hutchison, Vice Chancellor for Strategic
Planning and Analysis and Workforce and Economic
Development, thutchison@osrhe.edu
COLLEGE
AMERICA
The most ambitious and comprehensive
higher education initiative ever
undertaken by the state of Oklahoma.
can and must do better
Dducing a highly skilled
educated workforce in
ur state. This is part of our
igenda - developing the
"nmplete College America
ness conference, Sept. 22, 2011
Complete College America (CCA) is a national
initiative with the goal of significantly increasing
the number of Americans
with a college degree or
college credential.
The Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education have adopted college
completion as their No. 1
goal and are working to
increase the number of
degrees and certificates
earned in Oklahoma from
30,500 to 50,900 by 2023,
a 67 percent increase.
Oklahoma's long-
term commitment to
performance funding, our
focused efforts over the
last decade to generate
more college graduates for the workforce, and our
state leaders' embrace of the CCA goals has led to
Oklahoma being considered a national model for
the 28 other CCA states to follow.
CJl
o
CO
o
CD
O
o
CJ1
8
2012
2023
Goal for Oklahoma:
Degrees Earned
Annually
67% Increase