wsone.com

Even with critics creating additional skepticism at the importance of a four-year degree and potential students hesitating to enroll fearing rising student loan debt, a new report shows that for African Americans in California, a college degree is worth the cost.

The study, conducted by UC Berkeley research and the California Census Data Center, analyzed data from U.S. census, state funding for colleges and universities and average state expenses for social support programs and tax revenues. They then were able to find revenue and cost estimates for the state and individuals at various levels of education. Although college pays off for people across the board, African American students were found to have the greatest gains. According to the study, college reduces the amount of years African Americans will spend in poverty. Black students with a bachelor’s degree will spend six fewer years in poverty than black students with a high school degree.

“Education is a powerful payoff for this particular community as it is for all, but there’s a bigger impact here in terms of poverty and income,” Michele Siqueiros, the executive director of The Campaign for College Opportunity said to the North County Times. “In certain parts of the state, it’s really significant.”

Despite college debt and a troubling national economy, the lifetime earnings for college graduates across ethnic groups remains higher than that for high school graduates and has in fact increased over the past 30 years. For African Americans in California, lifetime earnings have grown 85 percent.

“One of the things I really like about this report is that education is not just a civil rights issue, it’s an economic issue,” Claudia Pena, statewide director for the California Civil Rights Coalition, said to North County Times. “There is actually a return for the state.”

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