MSC Today - Macon State College

A University System Study Confirms that Macon State and Other Georgia Public College Graduates Add Millions to the Economy

Adicia Coody, 22, left, and Jennifer Lewis, 23, are pursuing bachelor's degrees at Macon State College in part because they know that more education will increase their earning power.

A new report on higher education in Georgia shows that the "cost" of a college degree is really an investment - one that yields returns for both the graduates and their communities.

The report was commissioned by the University System of Georgia's Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) and conducted by Georgia Tech researchers. They analyzed the earnings of nearly 90,000 University System students who graduated between 1993 and 1997 and found that for 1998 (the most recent year complete data was available) the increased earnings resulting from their college degrees added $1.25 billion to Georgia's economy, in just that year alone.

Central Georgia shared in those dividends. The higher salaries earned by University System graduates who lived in Bibb and Houston counties translated into an economic impact of nearly $43 million - the highest in Georgia outside of metro Atlanta.

Impressive as that figure is, it does not include the effect of Macon State's seven baccalaureate programs introduced since 1997. The graduates of those programs will add significantly to Central Georgia's impact in future studies.

"Does a college degree pay off financially? Absolutely," said Dr. David A. Bell, Macon State's president. "This study indicates that graduates of Macon State and other University System schools will earn, over a lifetime, significantly more than workers without college degrees. Since most Macon State graduates remain in Central Georgia, that is a huge economic impact on this region."

The researchers found that recent associate degree graduates of Macon State earned, on average, nearly $8,000 more in 1998 than those with no education beyond high school.

They also confirmed, however, that average annual earnings increase as education increases. While an associate degree can boost earnings by 16 percent, a bachelor's degree can increase them by 34 percent, a master's degree by 40 percent, a doctoral degree by 46 percent and a professional degree, such as a medical or law degree, by 51 percent.

The study confirms that the economic value of college graduates is one of the huge, but hidden, drivers of economic growth, according to Bill Drummond, a professor in Georgia Tech's City and Regional Planning Program and one of the collaborators on the study.

"Georgia benefits from the University System in many ways, including the production of an educated labor force, the generation of new knowledge through research, the creation and expansion of businesses, and - perhaps the most important in a democracy - the development of educated and responsible citizens," Drummond said in a University System press release. "But this study has shown that one factor alone - the direct economic impact of University System graduates - more than justifies Georgia's investment in higher education."

To students in Macon State's bachelor's degree programs, it also justifies their personal investment.

Adicia Coody, 22, graduated from Northside High School in Warner Robins with very little idea of what career she wanted to pursue. She only knew that she wanted to go to college.

Growing up, Coody had become aware of the different standards of living that surrounded her and of her own family's position in the spectrum. Her father, no doubt sensing an opportunity, was not shy about telling her that the differences were due to higher levels of education in other families.

"I'm the first in my family to go to college," she said. "My dad was the driving force. He told me I had to go to live like I wanted to live."

So she enrolled at Macon State, focused on reaching a certain standard of living and trusting that she would find her niche. She found it in her first accounting class.

"I enjoyed it," Coody said. "I liked the structure and the challenge of (managing) numbers according to specific rules."

Last August, Coody earned the first college degree in her family - an associate of science in business. She is now a junior in Macon State's bachelor of science in business, majoring in accounting. Her plans include becoming a Certified Public Accountant and earning an MBA.

Kelly Kernich, center, a career specialist with Macon State College's Counseling and Career Center, reviews the final points of putting together a resume with students Curtis Swint, 22, and Konnie Billups, 31. Putting their degrees to work is a high priority for Macon State students.

She considers herself fortunate to have found the best of both worlds. "Accounting interests me," she said. "the money will be an added bonus."

Jennifer Lewis is a 23 - year old senior in Macon State's bachelor of science in information technology program. Like Coody, she is the first in her family to go to college. Unlike Coody, however, she found her niche while still a student at Central Fellowship Christian Academy.

"I knew that college graduates made more money," Lewis said, "and I always wanted to go to college for that reason. Once I took some computer courses in high school, though, I had a second motivation. I knew what I wanted to do."

Coody and Lewis are already applying their new knowledge in the region. Coody is doing elementary accounting as payroll administrator at her family's business - BikeTech, Inc. in Warner Robins. Lewis developed and maintained a proprietary database in Warner Robins. The database will eventually be accessible to users through the Internet.

Both Coody and Lewis would like to remain in Central Georgia after graduation as well. "This is home," Coody said. Lewis, whose family lives in Byron, agreed. After graduating with her bachelor's degree in information technology in May, she plans to enroll in a graduate program and work full - time in the IT field, both in this area.

Their ties to Central Georgia are typical of most students in Macon State's baccalaureate programs, so the economic value of their degrees will remain here as well. And that's an investment promising great returns.